Golf club apparatuses and methods

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for managing golf clubs and for collecting golf data, such as golf strokes, are described. In one embodiment, a golf data collection system includes a golf accessory worn on the golfer&#39;s wrist, such as a watch, equipped with a GPS receiver, impact sensing and motion sensing means, and a transceiver to communicate with golf club tags (e.g. at 2.4 GHz such as Bluetooth). The golf accessory senses the motion of the golf club being swung by the golf and/or senses the impact of the golf club striking the golf ball. When swinging motion or impact is sensed the device uses the transceiver to communicate with golf club tags. The closest golf club (i.e. the club in the golfer&#39;s hand during the swing) is captured as the club used by the swing based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). Other embodiments are also described.

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/936,650 filed Nov. 9, 2015, which is a divisional of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/633,835, filed on Oct. 2, 2012, nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,195,781, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/652,831 filed May 29, 2012, and to61/610,436, filed Mar. 13, 2012, and to 61/620,905, filed Apr. 5, 2012,and each of these three provisional patent applications are herebyincorporated herein by reference and U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/633,835 is also a continuation-in-part of and incorporates herein byreference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/813,465, filed Jun. 10,2010, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,624,738, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/186,771, filed Jun. 12, 2009,and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/633,835 is also acontinuation-in-part of and incorporates herein by reference U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/405,223, filed Mar. 16, 2009, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 8,226,495 and entitled “Golf Data Recorder With IntegratedMissing Club Reminder and Theft Prevention System,” which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/037,305, filedMar. 17, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the game of golf or other games, andmore particularly to an improved golf data collecting and recordingsystem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Golf Data Recording Function

GPS rangefinders are popular in the game of golf. GPS rangefinders areused to inform the golfer of the golfer's location on a golf courserelative to the location of other mapped areas of interest on the course(e.g. sand traps, greens, etc.) GPS rangefinders are typically availablein either cart-mounted or handheld versions. GPS rangefinding functionsare also available in cellular phones and personal computing devices.GPS rangefinders can be incorporated into devices that can be worn onthe golfer, such as a watch or a device clipped to a belt, hat or otherdevice either worn by the golfer or kept near the golfer during play.

A potentially valuable feature of handheld GPS rangefinders is theability for the golfer to “mark the location” of the ball and otherareas of interest. With existing handheld systems, or systems worn onthe golfer, the golfer is able to press a button on the devices to markthe location of the ball. Similar technology could be implemented incart-mounted GPS systems, but the handheld systems or systems worn onthe golfer have the advantage of the golfer being able to walk to theactual location of the golf ball to mark the location. Often golf cartsare restricted to “cart path only” access on a golf course and it isoften not practical to drive a golf cart to the actual location of agolf ball due to the terrain.

Marking the location of the ball provides valuable information to thegolfer. The current systems operate in approximately the followingmanner: When the golfer hits the first (tee) shot of a hole the golferpresses a button on the device instructing the device to “mark the spot”where the drive was hit. The device records the GPS coordinates of thefirst shot. The golfer may manually enter, through a manual inputinterface, other information on the device such as: type of club used(e.g. driver, 5 iron, etc.), type of contact made with the ball (e.g.hook, slice, straight), wind conditions, etc. The current method toenter such data consists of the golfer making selections on the deviceby pressing buttons, selecting items from drop down menus, etc.

After the golfer hits the first shot, records the location of the firstshot and enters data about the first shot the golfer approaches the ballat rest for the next shot. If the golfer follows the same pattern as thefirst shot (i.e. hitting the ball, marking the spot of the shot on thedevice, entering other information) the GPS system can store and displaythe locations of the first and second shots and calculate the distanceof the first shot. If this pattern is continued for every shot of theround the golfer would have very valuable data about the golf roundincluding: distance of all shots, locations of all shots and, ifentered, type of contact made on all shots, wind conditions for allshots, etc. The golfer would also know the number of strokes taken perhole which, if accurately recorded, would be the golfer's score for theround. However golfers seldom use the features because the process ofmanually entering data is too labor intensive on a golf course and willlengthen the duration of each golf shot, causing delays in the game.Further, if a data collection system requires action by the golfer it islikely the golfer may forget to take action on every stroke. If thegolfer forgets to take action to record a stroke or multiple strokes thesystem provides the golfer inaccurate data. Further, if the golferattempts to return to the approximate location where the golfer forgotto record the golf stroke this would result in further slowing down ofplay which is bad for the game of golf. Patents exist that describe GPSsystems with methods for collecting and managing data. Both U.S. Pat.No. 6,582,328 (Golflogix) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,498 (SkyHawke)describe such systems that require the golfer to enter golf shot data.

The problem with existing systems is golfers do not want to manuallyrecord the data for golf strokes into a handheld device or device wornon the golfer. It is inconvenient for golfers to take the time to lookat a device, press buttons, select from drop-down lists, etc. to recordinformation about every golf shot. One could say it is impractical forgolfers to do so. Further, if golfers took the time to enter data insuch a manual manner it would result in slower play which is not goodfor the golfers or the golf courses. It is desirable to have acompletely automatic system for collecting golf data. U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/949,458 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/170,413 describe such a system. The system described in this patentapplication includes automated means of detecting when a golf stroke hasoccurred and which golf club was used for the stroke.

The problem of requiring the golfer to enter data manually is known.U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,962 and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2007/0135237and 2007/0129178 (all by Reeves) teach solving the problem usingtelemetry equipped golf clubs. The solutions taught by Reeves areimpractical and fail to address all the issues required to accuratelycollect and record golf data. Reeves teaches entering data on a handhelddevice to record golf data, which is not good for the game because itwould slow down play. Reeves teaches golf clubs with unique holes in ornear the club head that make unique whistling sounds during the golfswing to identify each club. This approach is not practical due tovariations in swing speed, wind and other noise variations that wouldmake the system unreliable. Reeves teaches the use of a microphonehoused in the handheld device to hear the clicking sound when the clubhits to the ball to record the location of the stroke. This does nottake into account practice shots between holes and other clicking soundswhen clubs hit objects and would be prone to errors.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,109 teaches a system for counting strokesautomatically by detecting the distinctive sound made by a ballcontacting the club face during a hit. The system disclosed seems to beproblematic and potentially ineffective for several reasons. Similar toReeves, this patent confirms a golf stroke by the sound made by the clubstriking the ball. Because golfers will often hit balls between holesfor practice and hit other objects that might sound similar to hitting aball the system will be prone to errors. A further potential problemrelates to the insensitivity to a very gentle putt that generates nocharacteristic sound pattern. Finally, this system requires the golferto wear an ankle strap with a microphone in it which golfers will likelynot want to wear.

US Patent Application No. 2006/0270450 teaches a voice activated systemfor collecting and recording golf data. This system requires action(verbal instruction) by the golfer for each golf action to be recorded.Therefore the system does not automatically record golf data. Golfersmay not like having to speak instructions for every action to berecorded. Further, golfers may forget to verbally instruct the recordingof golf strokes which could result in attempts to return to locationswhere data was not recorded, slowing down play.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,639 and US Patent Application No. 2005/0272516 teacha golf launch monitor that uses RFID tags in golf balls and golf clubsto automatically identify the clubs and balls and to trigger acamera-based launch monitor system. U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/672,365, filed Sep. 26, 2003 teaches passive RFID in golf balls andthe identifying of such golf balls by a RFID reader.

Other examples of related prior art for golf data collection andmanagement systems include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,705,942, 5,086,390,4,910,677, 5,127,044, 5,283,733, 5,298,904, 6,908,404 and US PatentApplications 2002/0177490, 2002/0004723, 2001/0045904, 2002/0188359,2005/0268704, 2005/0272516 and 2004/0147329.

Golf data collection systems will provide golfers with rich data abouttheir golf game but existing systems and systems taught in the prior artabove have shortcomings or challenges. The systems described aboverequire either: 1) expensive and sophisticated electronics on the golfclub, 2) the golfer remembering to take an action to record every golfstroke (without a reminder) and 3) the golfer wearing an ankle strapwith a microphone in it which golfers will likely not want to wear. Someof the prior art systems have technical challenges, such as relying onsound made by the club striking the ball to record every stroke—whichmay not be technically feasible for all strokes, particularly putts.There is a need for a golf data collection system that requires littleor no action by the golfer to enter data on a device.

Application Ser. No. 12/170,413, filed Jul. 9, 2008, entitled“Apparatuses, Methods and Systems Relating to Automatic Golf DataCollecting and Recording”, incorporated herein by reference, describesan automatic golf data collection system. These and further techniquesare described herein.

Golf Club Reminder Function

A golfer will commonly remove more than one club from their golf bagwhen considering how to make an upcoming shot. The golfer does thisbecause they may be unsure of which club to use on the next shot. It ismore convenient to have several clubs in hand when deciding which clubto use vs. having to walk back to the golf cart for additional clubs.After choosing the correct club to use, the golfer may place the otherclubs on the ground. After making the shot, the golfer may select theputter and walk towards the hole to putt the ball and not realize thathe/she has left one or more clubs behind. It may then take the golfer along time to realize that he/she has forgotten the misplaced club.Having to backtrack and reclaim the forgotten clubs slows down the game,is frustrating and may disturb those playing around the golfer.

There are several known approaches to solving the problem of mistakenlyleaving golf clubs behind. Such systems are described in various U.S.Pat. No. 7,205,894 (Savage); U.S. Pat. No. 7,106,195 (Keays); U.S. Pat.No. 6,976,563 (Bormaster); U.S. Pat. No. 6,753,778 (Kruger); U.S. Pat.No. 6,411,211 (Boley et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,205 (Sutphen); U.S.Pat. No. 6,118,376 (Regester); U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,762 (Dusza); U.S.Pat. No. 6,023,225 (Boley et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,596 (French etal); U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,921 (Donnelly); U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,483 (Boley)and U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,845 (Hara) and U.S. Patent Application2007/0191126 (Mandracken).

Some of these systems use distance between tagged clubs and readers toalert the golfer of a misplaced club; some use interrogating RFIDtransceivers mounted on the bag; some use loops around the opening ofthe golf bag that sense magnets passing through the loop and some useorientation sensors on the golf clubs. These systems may not bepractical or effective for several reasons including: requirement ofcomplex and expensive electronics in some cases; requirement of largeamounts of power in some cases; potentially inadequate means of alertingthe golfer in some cases. Therefore, there is need for a system that isinexpensive, does not require large amounts of power and effectivelyalerts the golfer when a club has been mistakenly left behind.

Theft Prevention Function

Golf equipment, specifically golf clubs and golf bags, can be veryexpensive. It is a known problem that golf equipment can be stolen.Often, when golfers finish playing a round of golf they will leave theirgolf equipment near the clubhouse, unattended, while they eat a meal,review their golf round with friends, etc. There is a need for a systemthat will notify a golfer when his or her golf equipment is movedwithout their authorization. Ideally, such system will help the golferretrieve their golf equipment if stolen.

There are known approaches to solving the problem of alerting the golferwhen their golf bag is moved without authorization. Such systems aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,894 (Savage) and U.S. Pat. No.5,041,815 (Newton). There is a need for a system with improvedfunctionality over the known art.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

The following describes additions to U.S. Provisional Patent Application61/620,905, and at least some of the embodiments described herein shouldbe understood to be in the context of the prior application which isincorporated herein by reference. This application includes additionsand potential modifications to the club tag and the system including,for example, the following: system automation techniques. Thisapplication also refers to techniques described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,691,009 and 7,766,766, and pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.13/230,779, 12/405,223, 12/813,465, 13/305,722, 13/305,724, andProvisional Patent Application 61/610,436, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference. This application covers multiple techniquesand configurations for a golf data collection and club reminding systemcomprised of one or more of golf club tags and receiving device(s).

A technique for automating golf data collection is described thatincludes a golf device configured, in one embodiment, as a watch to beworn by the golfer. The device may contain an impact sensing device(such as a piezoelectric device for example) that recognizes when astroke has occurred by sensing the shock of the impact as it travels tothe hand, wrist and arm of the golfer. The device may also contain amotion sensing device (such as an accelerometer for example) thatrecognizes when the watch is moving and/or when an impact occurs. Itshould be understood that one device, such as an accelerometer, couldsense both motion (i.e. swing) and impact. Prior art techniques teachincluding an impact sensing and/or motion sensing device on the golfclub tag that is configured to be attached to the golf club. Equippingthe impact/motion sensing device in the golf watch device solves theproblem of the high cost of electronics and size of the golf club tag.An impact/motion sensor in a golf watch can be used with a full set ofgolf clubs (typically 14 clubs per set). If the impact/motion sensingdevice is in the club tag (one tag per golf club in a set of clubs) thatcan be 14 times (or more) cost to the golfer. The cost can be higherbecause typically a golfer will own more than 14 clubs, but only allowedto carry a maximum of 14 at a time per the Rules of Golf.

Light Pipe Configurations

The club tag housing is designed to allow light to reach the lightsensors. In one embodiment the top part of the housing serves as a lightpipe that allows light to reach the light sensors. The light pipe can beconfigured to control the amount of light that reaches the lightsensors. For example, the light pipe can be configured to only allowlight in through the sides of the light pipe as shown in FIG. 2. Thelight pipe can be configured to diffuse or reflectively diffuse lightreceived by the light pipe and direct the diffused light toward one orboth of the light sensors. Alternatively, the light pipe can beconfigured to only allow light in through the top of the light pipe asshown in FIG. 4B. Another embodiment is a combination of light pipesthat allow light in through the top and through the sides, directedtoward one or more light sensors as shown in FIG. 4C.

Controlling the amount of light that enters the light sensors (lightswitch and light meter) limits the wide variations between bright lightreadings. Limiting the amount of direct sun exposure to the lightsensors allows for less drastic changes in light which can simplify thealgorithms used to determine in-bag or out-of-bag status. The light canbe limited by diffusing it or reflectively diffusing it or by the use ofa neutral density filter, etc. In an alternate embodiment, it isdesirable to focus or direct the light to the light sensors. Thealgorithm is optimized to interpret the variations in light readings.

Light Sensing Algorithms

The club tags use algorithms, in one embodiment, to determine whetherthe tag is in or out of the golf bag. These algorithms use informationfrom the light sensors. For example, in one embodiment a fixed thresholdbetween dark and light is used by the light switch to determine in-bagor out-of-bag status in some situations. The light switch and lightmeter can also be used in combination to determine in-bag or out-of-bagstatus. The club tag can use variable thresholds calculated by using thelight meter measurements and various averages of light metermeasurements.

In one embodiment, an apparatus, which can be a golf club tag attachedto a golf club, can perform an algorithm to determine the status of thegolf club relative to, for example, a golf club bag or other containerfor the golf club. The status can be one of in-bag or out-of-bag, andstatus can be determined by a processing system, such as amicrocontroller or other processing logic, in the golf club tag. Thegolf club tag can include a housing that is attached to or coupled tothe golf club, and the processing system can be coupled to (e.g. locatedwithin) the housing and is coupled to at least one light sensor. Thehousing can include one or more light pipes as described herein. Thegolf club tag also includes a memory which is coupled to the processingsystem and which can be configured to store one or more of a brightaverage, running average, and a dark average. The golf club tag alsoincludes an RF transmitter, or transceiver, which is coupled to theprocessing system and which is configured to transmit an identifier ofthe golf club and an indicator of the status of the golf club relativeto the golf club bag.

In one embodiment, the apparatus can include only a single light sensorwhich is configured to wake up the system from a deep or dark sleepstate and is also configured to provide a sequence of current lightmeter values over a period of time.

In one embodiment, the processing system is configured to require thebright average to be greater than the dark average and is configured toclip the dark average if it exceeds a preset value. Further, theprocessing system can be configured to cause the RF transmitter totransmit at least one of (a) the current light meter value and (b) therunning average of light meter values, and these transmissions can beused by a golf range finder (e.g., a handheld GPS golf range finder thatcan also remind a golfer about a lost or misplaced golf club) todetermine whether a status indicator (e.g. in-bag or out-of-bag) may beerroneous based on comparison of transmitted light meter values to lightsensor information as measured by a light sensor internal to the golfrange finder.

Club Tag Aesthetics and Housing Design

This application includes various potential club tag designconfigurations. Also included is the concept of a golf grip that isdesigned specifically to receive a club tag, thereby improving theaesthetics and creating a more finished-looking product when the clubtag is installed on the golf club grip. The configurations included inthis application are only typical embodiments of the invention and arenot therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope.

Club Tag Antenna Configurations

The club tag antenna can be modified to be in different locations on thetag. The location of the antenna may have an impact on antennaperformance. Removing the antenna from the printed circuit board freesup space for electrical components and allows for a smaller printedcircuit board. Other potential impacts of different club tag antennalocations are discussed herein.

System Automation Techniques

Ultimately a system, in one embodiment, used to collect golf data willbe fully automated, requiring no out-of-the-ordinary action by thegolfer. This application discusses system configurations that aresemi-automated as well as fully automated.

Determining Club Motion

In one embodiment, a method of determining that a golf club is in usecan include determining a motion of a golf club by collecting a set ofmeasurements which are at least one of (a) a series of light sensormeasurements taken over time by a light sensor in the golf club; or (b)a series of vibrations or tilt or motion measurements taken over time bya sensor in the golf club. The method can also include transmitting,from an RF transmitter in the golf club to a mobile device for use inthe mobile device in determining that a golf club is in use, at leastone of (a) a motion status of the golf club, the motion statusdetermined from the set of measurements; or (b) the set of measurements.In one embodiment, the method can include transmitting an identifier ofthe golf club to the mobile device and transmitting an out-of-bag statusto the mobile device. The motion status can include one of in-motion orstill statuses, and the motion status can be determined from at leastone of determining a variation in light sensor measurements or bycomparing the set of measurements to a predetermined pattern of lightsensor measurements. In one embodiment, the variation can be compared toa value and the variation can be a largest difference in light sensormeasurements or some measure of a deviation or variation of the lightsensor measurements, such as a degree or a standard deviation, etc. Inone embodiment, the golf club tag can also include another light sensorwhich activates a logic circuit and the RF transmitter and the lightsensor (used to take light measurements) in order to collect the set ofmeasurements, and the out-of-bag status is determined from the lightmeasurements by the light sensor. A golf club tag according to oneembodiment can include a processing logic and at least one sensor fordetermining a motion of the golf club by collecting a set ofmeasurements which can be at least one of (a) a series of light sensormeasurements taken over time by a light sensor in the golf club tag or(b) a series of vibration or tilt or motion measurements taken over timeby a sensor in the golf club tag. The at least one sensor can be coupledto the processing logic which is also coupled to an RF transmitter, theRF transmitter being configured to transmit, from the golf club tag to amobile device for use in the mobile device in determining that a golfclub is in use, at least one of (a) a motion status of the golf club,wherein the motion status is determined from the set of measurements or(b) the set of measurements.

A method according to this embodiment can also be performed by a mobiledevice, such as a golf GPS rangefinder, and this method can include:receiving, at an RF receiver of the mobile device, one or moreout-of-bag status indicators with corresponding golf club identifiersfrom a corresponding one or more golf club tags on a golfer's set ofgolf clubs, each of the golf club identifiers identifying a particulargolf club in the golfer's set of golf clubs; and receiving, at the RFreceiver of the mobile device from each of the corresponding one or moregolf club tags, at least one of (a) a motion status of the correspondinggolf club or (b) a set of measurements from which the motion status isdetermined; and determining a golf club, in the set of golf clubs, thatis in use from at least one of the received motion status and the set ofmeasurements, and recording a stroke, wherein the recording indicates,using the golf club identifier for the golf club determined to be inuse, that the stroke was made with the golf club determined to be inuse. This method can also include determining a position informationthrough a satellite positioning system in the mobile device, and therecording of the stroke includes recording the position information(such as a latitude and longitude on a golf course) and recording theclub used to take the stroke.

Golf Club Tag Activates Reader of Passive Tags in Golf Balls

Another embodiment relates to a method for golf data collection throughthe use of a sensor in a golf club tag to activate an RFID reader whichreads passive RFID tags in golf balls. In one embodiment, this methodcan include: sensing, by a sensor in the golf club tag, that a golf clubhas been removed from a golf club container, such as a golf bag, whereinthe sensor includes at least one light sensor and optionally a vibrationsensor, and the golf club tag includes an RF transmitter and processinglogic that is coupled to the RF transmitter and the sensor; and themethod can further include transmitting, by the transmitter in the golfclub tag, an RF signal to cause an RFID reader in a mobile device to beactivated to read a passive RFID tag in a golf ball; the transmittertransmits the RF signal in response to the sensor sensing that the golfclub has been removed from the golf club container. The method can alsoinclude the use of a first light sensor which turns on a second lightsensor that provides the measurements of light, and the measurements oflight are used by the processing logic to determine that the golf clubhas been removed from the golf club container. In one embodiment, themethod can include actions performed by the RFID reader including:receiving, by the RFID reader, the RF signal to cause the RFID reader tobe activated to read the passive RFID tags in one or more golf balls.The method of the reader can also include transmitting, from the RFIDreader, in response to the signal to cause the RFID reader to beactivated, an RF query signal that requests a response from one or morepassive RFID tags in one or more golf balls. The method can furtherinclude receiving, by the RFID reader, a response to the query signal,from a passive RFID tag in the golf ball, and determining that the golfball has been hit by the golf club and then recording informationindicating a stroke has been taken by the golf club and recording a GPSposition information indicating a location of the stroke.

Golf Ball with Sensor to Detect Hit on Golf Ball

In one embodiment, a golf ball includes a battery within the golf ball,a sensor configured to detect a hit on the golf ball by a golf club, aprocessing logic coupled to the battery and to the sensor, and an RFtransmitter coupled to an antenna and also coupled to the processinglogic. The processing logic can be configured to cause the RFtransmitter to transmit a first RF signal to a mobile device, such as aGPS golf rangefinder, in response to the sensor detecting a hit on thegolf ball. In one embodiment, the processing logic can be furtherconfigured to maintain the golf ball in a low power sleep state untilthe sensor detects a hit and then the sensor causes the processing logicto exit the low power sleep state and to provide power to the RFtransmitter, and the processing logic causes the golf ball to return tothe low power sleep state after a period of time that is subsequent to ahit on the golf ball. In one embodiment, the sensor can be at least oneof (a) a vibration sensor; (b) a piezoelectric sensor; (c) a shocksensor; (d) an acceleration sensor; or (e) a motion sensor. The golfball can be configured to transmit the RF signal repeatedly and caninclude at least one of (a) an identifier of the golf ball or (b) amotion status of the golf ball as indicated by the one or more sensorsin the golf ball. In one embodiment, the sensor can include a firstsensor having a first sensitivity and a second sensor having a secondsensitivity, wherein the second sensitivity of the second sensor detectsimpacts that are not detected by the first sensor, and wherein the firstsensor causes the processing logic to exit the low power sleep state andwherein the golf ball transmits the first RF signal repeatedly at afirst rate immediately after a hit is detected and then at a secondrate, which is lower than the first rate, after transmitting at thefirst rate. In one embodiment, the first sensor can be an impact sensorand the second sensor can be a vibration sensor.

In one embodiment, a mobile golf rangefinder can operate with a golfball having an impact sensor and can use geo-location information todetermine whether a stroke should be recorded and the type of stroke,such as a driver stroke or a putt. For example, in one embodiment, amobile golf rangefinder can include a satellite positioning systemreceiver for providing position information, such as latitude andlongitude, and can also include one or more receivers for receiving RFsignals from an RF transmitter in a golf ball and for receiving RFsignals from RF transmitters in one or more golf club tags. The mobilegolf rangefinder can also include data storage for storing mapinformation about one or more golf courses and can also includeprocessing logic coupled to the satellite positioning system receiverand coupled to the one or more receivers and also coupled to the datastorage. The processing logic can be configured to determine, from theRF signals from the RF transmitter in the golf ball, the type of impactand can be configured to determine from the position information andfrom the type of impact and from the map information, whether to recorda stroke. In other words, using the map information and the positioninformation, the mobile golf rangefinder can determine whether to acceptthe readings as a stoke and to thereby record the stroke. For example,subtle impacts are ignored when no golf club tags indicate an out-of-bagstatus. As another example, the mobile golf rangefinder can record astroke from a light hit which occurs near a green on a golf course asdetermined by the GPS receiver.

Golf Ball Construction

In one embodiment, a golf ball can include a battery, an RF transmittercoupled to the battery, a logic circuit coupled to the battery and tothe RF transmitter, at least one antenna contact pad coupled to the RFtransmitter, a first core having an outer surface which surrounds thebattery, the RF transmitter, the logic circuit, and at least one antennacontact pad, and an antenna coupled to the at least one antenna contactpad, the antenna extending out beyond the outer surface of the firstcore, and a second core which surrounds the first core, the antennabeing disposed within the second core and placed between portions ofcore material, which is used to form the second core, before the secondcore is formed, and a shell which surrounds the second core. Optionally,there may be an antenna inside the first core. The golf ball can furtherinclude at least one sensor configured to detect a hit on the golf ballby a golf club, the sensor being coupled to the logic circuit and to thebattery. The antenna can be formed from an elastic conductive material,and the first core can be formed from a hard material and the secondcore can be formed from an elastic material. The processing logic, inone embodiment, can be configured to cause the RF transmitter totransmit an RF signal to a mobile device in response to the at least onesensor detecting a hit on the golf ball, and the logic circuit can beconfigured to maintain the golf ball circuitry and a low power sleepstate until at least one sensor detects a hit and then the at least onesensor causes the logic circuit to exit the low power state and causesthe RF transmitter to enter a higher power state. In one embodiment,such a golf ball may be manufactured according to a method whichincludes: coupling a battery to an RF transmitter and to a logiccircuit, the RF transmitter having at least one antenna pad; coupling anantenna to at least one antenna pad; forming a first core whichencapsulates the RF transmitter and the logic circuit within the firstcore, the first core having an outer surface, and the antenna extendingoutwardly beyond the outer surface; placing the first core in a mold,the first core being placed between core material in the mold; andforming a second core from the core material in the mold, the secondcore encapsulating the first core and the antenna; and forming a shellaround the second core.

Sensor in Active Ball Activates RFID Reader of Passive Club Tags

In one embodiment, a golf data collection system can include: a golfball containing a battery and at least one sensor that is configured todetect a hit on the golf ball by a golf club, and an RF transmitter anda processing logic coupled to the battery and to the at least one sensorand to the RF transmitter; and a mobile device having a battery andhaving a first receiver configured to receive RF signals from the RFtransmitter in the golf ball and having an RFID reader configured totransmit a query signal to one or more passive RFID golf club tags, andwherein the RFID reader is also configured to process a response to thequery signal from the one or more passive RFID golf club tags. The golfdata collection system can include an RFID receiver to receive theresponse to the query signal from the one or more passive RFID golf clubtags. In one embodiment, the RFID reader transmits the query signal inresponse to receiving an RF signal from the golf ball, wherein the RFsignal is transmitted in response to the at least one sensor detecting ahit on the golf ball. In other words, the sensor in the golf ball causesthe activation of the RFID reader to transmit the query signals in oneembodiment.

The above summary does not include an exhaustive list of all aspects ofthe present invention. It is contemplated that the invention includesall systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitablecombinations of the various aspects summarized above, and also thosedisclosed in the Detailed Description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tag.

FIG. 2 shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagillustrating light entering from the sides of the light pipe andreflecting off a light concentrating feature into the light sensors.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a potential shape of a lightconcentrating feature for the light pipe.

FIG. 4A shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagillustrating light entering from the top of the light pipe andreflecting off the inside walls of the light pipe into the lightsensors.

FIG. 4B shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagillustrating light entering from the top of the light pipe.

FIG. 4C shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagillustrating light entering from the top of the light pipe and from thesides of the light pipe.

FIG. 4D shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagillustrating two isolated light sensors and light entering from the topof the light pipe and from the sides of the light pipe.

FIG. 4E shows a flow chart of possible scenarios based on readings ofeach isolated light sensor, such as the light sensors in the embodimentshown in FIG. 4D.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for the club reminder and golf data collectingsystem.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram for one embodiment of the club tag (e.g.,433 MHz).

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram for another embodiment of the club tag(e.g., 2.4 GHz).

FIG. 7A is a software flow diagram for the microprocessor in oneembodiment of the club tag. FIG. 7A is in the form of multiple pageslabeled as 7A-1, 7A-2, 7A-3, and 7A-4.

FIGS. 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E are software flow diagrams for themicroprocessor in another embodiment of the club tag. FIG. 7B is in theform of multiple pages labeled as 7B-1, 7B-2, 7B-3, and 7B-4. FIG. 7C isin the form of multiple pages labeled as 7C-1, 7C-2, 7C-3, 7C-4, 7C-5,and 7C-6. FIG. 7D is in the form of multiple pages labeled as 7D-1,7D-2, 7D-3, 7D-4, 7D-5, and 7D-6. FIG. 7E is in the form of multiplepages labeled as 7E-1, 7E-2, 7E-3, 7E-4, 7E-5, and 7E-6.

FIGS. 7F and 7G are software flow diagrams for the microprocessor inanother embodiment of the club tag that incorporates light variations todetermine motion in the club tag. FIG. 7F is in the form of multiplepages labeled as 7F-1, 7F-2, 7F-3, 7F-4, 7F-5, and 7F-6. FIG. 7G is inthe form of multiple pages labeled as 7G-1, 7G-2, 7G-3, 7G-4, 7G-5, and7G-6.

FIG. 7H is a software flow diagram for the microprocessor in anotherembodiment of the club tag that incorporates a sensor to determinemotion. FIG. 7H is in the form of multiple pages labeled as 7H-1, 7H-2,7H-3, 7H-4, 7H-5, and 7H-6.

FIG. 7I is a flow chart showing a method for processing motion statusfrom a group of golf clubs.

FIG. 7J is a flow chart showing a method of using reseeded runningaverage(s) in one embodiment.

FIG. 7K is a software flow diagram for the microprocessor in anotherembodiment of the club tag. FIG. 7K is in the form of multiple pageslabeled as 7K-1, 7K-2, and 7K-3.

FIG. 7L is a flow diagram for the microprocessor or other processinglogic in another embodiment of the club tag that incorporates lightvariations to determine motion in the club tag. FIG. 7L is in the formof multiple pages labeled as 7L-1, 7L-2, 7L-3, 7L-4, 7L-5, and 7L-6. InFIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F, 7G, 711, 7K, and 7L, the same referencenumber used in two different figures represents the same or similaroperation in each flow.

FIG. 8A shows a top view and FIG. 8B shows a side view of one embodimentof the club tag.

FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively show a top view and a side cross sectionview of a golf club shaft and grip.

FIG. 10A shows a side view cross section of a golf club shaft and a golfclub grip with a flat top with a club tag attached to the golf clubgrip; FIG. 10B is a side view cross section of a golf club shaft and agolf club grip with a dome-shaped top with a club tag attached to thegolf club grip and FIG. 10C is a side view cross section of a golf clubshaft and a golf club grip with a dome-shaped top and a club tag fillergasket with a club tag attached to the golf club grip.

FIG. 11A shows a top view and FIG. 11C shows a cross-section view of oneembodiment of a club tag filler gasket.

FIG. 11B shows a side view cross section of one embodiment of a club tagfiller gasket attached to one embodiment of a club tag.

FIG. 12A shows a top view and FIG. 12B shows a side view of oneembodiment of an insert designed to be attached to a golf club grip anddesigned to receive a club tag.

FIG. 13A shows a top view and FIG. 13B shows a side view cross sectionof a golf club shaft and golf club grip with the top removed.

FIG. 14 shows a side view cross section of a golf club shaft and golfclub grip with a club tag attached and highlights the increase in heightto the top of the grip when a club tag is attached.

FIGS. 15A-15E show various configurations for the post on the club tag.

FIGS. 15F and 15G show two side views of a golf club shaft and a golfclub grip with an insert designed to receive a club tag attached to thegolf club grip.

FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C show three side view cross sections of a golfclub shaft and golf club grip with the golf club grip molded with arecess designed to receive a club tag.

FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C show three side view cross sections of a golfclub shaft and golf club grip with the golf club grip molded with arecess designed to receive either a club tag printed circuit boardassembly or a club tag and a cover piece designed to attach over theclub tag.

FIG. 18A is a top view of a golf club grip with a slit in it designed toreceive a club tag.

FIG. 18B is a side view cross section of a club tag and a golf gripdesigned to receive the club tag through an opening in the golf grip.

FIG. 18C shows a top view and side view of one embodiment of a club tag.

FIG. 18D is a side view cross section of a club tag inside a golf gripdesigned to receive the club tag through an opening in the golf grip.

FIGS. 19A-19D show various views of a club tag printed circuit boardassembly with various antenna designs.

FIG. 20 is a side view cross section of a club tag designed with theantenna on top of the light pipe and connected to the printed circuitboard with a conductive material.

FIG. 21A is a side view cross section of a club tag, showing the printedcircuit board and metallized antenna board.

FIG. 21B is a top view of a club tag printed circuit board and themetalized antenna board.

FIG. 21C is a top view of an alternate metalized antenna board.

FIG. 21D is a top view detail of the gap in the metalized antenna board.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart that shows an example of a method for providing amore secure learn tag mode in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart that shows an example of a method for obtaininginformation about golf clubs after they are distributed to golfersaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24A is a block diagram for the club reminder and golf datacollecting system.

FIG. 25A is a schematic diagram for one embodiment of the ball tag

FIG. 25B is a schematic diagram for another embodiment of the ball tag

FIG. 26A is a flow chart that shows an example of a method for a systemthat automatically collects golf data.

FIG. 26B is a flow chart that shows another example of a method for asystem that automatically collects golf data.

FIG. 27 is a side view cross section of a golf ball that containselectronic circuitry embedded in a micro-core embedded in the ball.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are perspective views of a micro-core that containselectrical circuitry.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a micro-core embedded in one-half of agolf ball core with electrical leads extending from the micro-core.

FIG. 31 is a side view of a micro-core, with an antenna extendingoutwardly beyond the surface of the micro-core, being positioned betweentwo halves of a golf ball core during an assembly method of oneembodiment.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a micro-core embedded in a golf ball.

FIG. 33 is a view of a tubular core that contains electrical circuitry.

FIG. 34 is a side view cross-section of a tubular core containingelectrical circuitry embedded in a spherical micro-core.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of a method for manufacture of a golf ballcontaining a micro-core that contains electrical circuitry.

FIG. 36A is a flow chart which shows a method for using an active golfclub tag and a passive golf ball tag.

FIG. 36B is a flow chart which shows a method for using an active golfball tag and a passive golf club tag.

FIGS. 37 and 38 are examples of a golf accessory device that is worn onthe golfer.

FIGS. 39A, B, C, D, E, and F show an embodiment of a method ofmanufacturing a golf ball containing a micro-core and electroniccircuitry.

FIGS. 39G and 3911 show an embodiment of a method of manufacturing agolf ball containing a micro-core and electronic circuitry that includesmultiple sensors.

FIG. 40 is a flow chart that describes a process of manufacturing a golfball containing a micro-core and electronic circuitry.

FIGS. 41, 42, and 43 are flow charts of various embodiments describingmethods of implementing a reader and tags on golf clubs and in golfballs.

FIG. 44 is a flow chart of a typical embodiment of a tag that containstwo impact sensors in a golf ball.

FIGS. 45A, 45B, and 45C are graphs illustrating data and statusdecisions performed by algorithms that use light meter variation todetermine motion status of a club.

FIG. 46 outlines tests performed to assess motion status of a club basedon light meter variations.

FIGS. 47 and 48 outline methods of automation for golf round datacollection.

FIG. 49 outlines a method of combining motion and impact data toautomatically determine that a golf stroke has occurred.

FIG. 50 outlines a power-saving technique in a golf club tag.

FIG. 51 shows a system, in block diagram form, that includes a golfaccessory and a set of golf club RFID tags and a display device.

FIG. 52 shows a system in which a plurality (two or more) golfaccessories can share a single display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described withreference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings willillustrate the various embodiments. The following description anddrawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construedas limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the presentinvention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventionaldetails are not described in order to provide a concise discussion ofembodiments of the present inventions.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least oneembodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarilyall refer to the same embodiment. The processes depicted in the figuresthat follow are performed by processing logic that comprises hardware(e.g. circuitry, dedicated logic, etc.), software, or a combination ofboth. Although the processes are described below in terms of somesequential operations, it should be appreciated that some of theoperations described may be performed in a different order. Moreover,some operations may be performed in parallel rather than sequentially.

System Overview—Club Tag and Golf Device

As shown in FIG. 5, one embodiment of the club tag system consists of atleast one club tag 510 and a receiving device, such as a golf GPS device511. The club tag includes transmitter 502 operating at for example 433MHz or 2.4 GHz, an antenna 501, a microprocessor 503, and at least onesensor 504, for example one or more light sensors. The golf GPS deviceincludes at least one antenna 521, a receiver 522, a microprocessor 523,and golf GPS circuitry and user interface 524. The golf GPS circuitry,user interface and microprocessor (or other processing system) mayinclude functions for both the club tag function and golf GPS functions.The club tag information is used to implement golf data collection ormissing club reminder functionality or both. For the golf datacollection function, the club tag provides information, such asidentifying a club used for a golf stroke. For the missing clubreminder, the club tag provides information about which clubs are out ofthe golf bag. The golf GPS functions use position information (e.g.latitude and longitude obtained from a GPS receiver) and golf coursemaps to provide distance and other information to a golfer. Otherexamples of a receiving unit which receives RF transmissions from a clubtag include those units shown in FIGS. 15, 17A, 17B, and 29 of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/405,223.

The embodiments shown in schematics in FIGS. 6A and 6B are some examplesof a club tag; other examples of a tag are shown in FIGS. 16A-16C inU.S. application Ser. No. 12/405,223 and are described in conjunctionwith those figures. Referring to FIG. 6A in this application, the tagincludes an antenna L1, two light sensors Q2 and U2, a microprocessorU3, a timing circuit including U1, and a battery BT1. A surface-acousticwave (SAW) resonator Y1 provides, in this embodiment, the frequencysource for the transmitter. The SAW resonator, the transistor Q1, andcorresponding components make up an oscillator that operates at, forexample, 433 MHz. This oscillator is, in this embodiment, turned on andoff by microprocessor control (component U3), creating an on-off keyed(OOK) modulated signal. The antenna can be a trace on the printedcircuit board. The inductance of this trace contributes to the tuning ofthe oscillator. Referring to FIG. 6B, the tag includes, in thisembodiment, an antenna AN1, two light sensors Q1 and U2, amicroprocessor and RF transmitter or transceiver U4, and a battery BT1.In this embodiment the transmitter operates at 2.4 GHz. The antenna maybe a trace on the printed circuit board, alternatively the antenna maybe a discrete part mounted on the printed circuit board.

It will be understood that the tag and/or the receiving unit can includeprocessing logic or logic circuit or a processing system that canimplement the functions and methods described herein, and it will beunderstood that the processing logic or logic circuit or processingsystem can be provided by any one or more of hardware, or a combinationof hardware and software, in the form of an ASIC (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit), a programmable logic device, a microcontroller, ora microprocessor or a combination of these elements.

It will also be understood that a club tag or tag can be manufacturedand assembled with a golf club and sold to a retailer or otherdistributor with the tag already in place in the golf club before beingsold or provided (e.g. rented) to an end user (golfer) or the tag can beadded by a golfer after the golfer obtains a club that does not have atag. It will also be understood that a golf rangefinder can be acellular telephone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a tabletcomputer or a smartphone or other consumer electronic devices, such as awatch or device worn on the golfer, that can provide at least one of thefunctions of a golf rangefinder (such as, a golf club reminder functionor a golf data recording function or a GPS function, etc.). It will alsobe understood that GPS (Global Positioning System) is one of theavailable systems that can provide a location through satellites andthat SPS (Satellite Positioning System) includes GPS, Glonass and othersatellite systems and also non-satellite systems (such as cellulartelephone tower triangulation or pseudolites arranged on a golf course,etc.).

Light Pipe Configurations Radial Light Pipe

FIGS. 1 and 2 show one typical embodiment of a club tag. The club tagelectronics/printed circuit board assembly 103 are housed within abottom housing part 104 and a top housing part. For the configurationshown in FIG. 1 the light pipe 102 and the cover 101 combine to be thetop housing piece for the club tag electronics. FIG. 2 depicts how alight pipe can control the amount of light that reaches the lightsensors 204. Controlling the amount of light that enters the lightsensors (light switch and light meter) limits the wide variationsbetween bright light readings. For example, the light level reading atfull-sun midday could be approximately 100,000 Lux, and in the shadecould be 10,000 Lux. Although this is a significant change in the lightlevel readings, both readings are obviously outdoors and there is noneed to differentiate between 100,000 Lux and 10,000 Lux. Limiting theamount of light that enters the tag reduces the dynamic range requiredto process that light meter data. An analog-to-digital converter is usedto process light meter data. Limiting the dynamic range allows for useof an 8-bit analog-to-digital converter instead of, for example, a10-bit analog-to-digital converter, offering less complex processing andreduced component cost. Light pipes that allow the light to enter from360 degrees provide for light meter readings that are averaged, versusreadings that are from direct line-of-sight light sources such as thesun. Additionally, light sensors use more current for brighter readings,and battery life is conserved by not making readings at very high lightlevels.

There are various techniques to limit the light that enters the tag, andthere are also techniques for focusing or concentrating the light thatdoes enter the tag. These techniques are examples of the presentinvention and other alternative embodiments can employ differenttechniques and configurations in a manner that is consistent withgeneral techniques of the invention.

Light Enter Through Sides

One technique for selectively illuminating the light sensors is to allowthe light 203 to enter at the sides of the club tag only; not throughthe top. This can be accomplished with a clear acrylic or plastic piece102 with a solid-colored piece (101 and 201) on the top above the frameor housing 104 provided by a tag. The plastic piece 102 could betransparent or translucent. The underside of the solid colored piececould be white or metallic which offers improved reflection of the lightthat enters through the sides. In one embodiment, the underside of thesolid colored piece has a white diffusively reflective surface whichdiffusely reflects (e.g. scatters) light. The top colored piece could bea dark color or opaque such that light is not allowed to pass through.The light enters along side of the entire circumference of the clearpiece 102 and is reflected inside the thickness of the clear piece 102.

Focus Light

Another technique for illuminating the light sensors is to focus thelight that enters the tag onto the light sensors 204. This can beachieved by incorporating one or more light focusing or concentratingfeatures 202. The light focusing feature could be in the form of aparabolic dimple, a hole or a countersink (as shown in FIG. 2) or otherfeature that directs light to the light sensors. Optionally, thisfeature could be filled with a material to direct the light. Thismaterial could be epoxy, silicone, or other material and may includereflective pieces such as glitter or metallic chips. Alternatively,metallic ink or paint may be used on the surface of the light focusingfeature 202 or on the underside of the top cover 201. Another techniqueto focus the light onto the sensors is to use a parabolic shaped dimplethat focuses incoming light onto a precise spot, as shown in FIG. 3.

Light Through Top with One or More Holes

Referring to FIG. 4A, there are other techniques for selectivelyilluminating the light sensors 405. One example is to include smallareas in the top cover of the tag that allow light to pass through. Thecover 401 is a substantially solid colored or opaque cover with one ormore clear areas 403 (e.g. transparent pin holes in the cover 401) thatallow light to enter and reach the lights sensors 405 in selective areassuch that the light is not directly reaching the light sensors. Theunderside 404 of the cover 401 could have a reflective surface, such aswhite colored or metallic, allowing the light to reflect inside theclear plastic or acrylic cover 402. The reflective surface can be adiffusively reflective surface so that it scatters the light uponreflection.

Axial Light Pipe—Light Directly Through Top

Referring to FIG. 4B, another technique for illuminating the lightsensors is as follows. A clear plastic piece 409 is attached to the topcover 407 directly over the light sensors 411, which allows light 405 toenter and reach the light sensors. In some configurations, the clearplastic piece 409 can be tinted or semi-translucent. The cover 407 issubstantially solid colored or opaque, and the clear area 409 allowslight to enter from the top only. The underside of the cover may have areflective surface or it may not be reflective. The sides of the housing408 are opaque and are adjacent to the opaque top cover 407. In thisconfiguration, light does not enter from the sides of the housing.

Combination of Axial and Radial Light Pipes

Referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, an alternate embodiment is shown, using acombination of techniques to illuminate the light sensors. As shown inFIG. 4C, a clear plastic piece 416 allows light 412 to enter from thesides of the tag, and another clear plastic piece 417 attached to thetop cover 415 allows light 413 to enter through the top of the tag. Theone or more light sensors are positioned such that each respondsdifferently to light entering from each direction. For example, as shownin FIG. 4D, a light sensor B pointing toward the top responds to light422 entering from the top with lesser or no sensitivity to lightentering through the sides. Similarly, a light sensor effectivelypointed towards the side would respond to light entering from the side421 with lesser or no sensitivity to light entering through the top. Inone embodiment, one or more light sensors can be isolated from eachother, and each sensor can respond to light from different directions.As shown in FIG. 4D, a light pipe 423 is implemented such that light 422(entering from the top) is directed onto sensor B and isolated fromsensor A. Similarly the light pipe 423A directs light from the side ontosensor A and isolates light entering from the side 421 from reachingsensor B. Using the information from each sensor can determineparticular scenarios, as illustrated in the chart in FIG. 4E. Forexample, if there is little to no light entering through the top of thetag and there is light entering through the side of the tag, theprocessing system may determine that the club is in a translucent bagthat allows light in. The processing system can use this information todetermine thresholds for decisions about whether the club is in or outof the bag. Another example is determining the difference between a clubthat is in the bag compared to a club that is out of the bag and on theground in high grass. The processing system can use information from theone or more light sensors isolated from each other to determine theclub's in/out status. In this example, when the club is in high grass,the light entering through the top may be less than is typicallyrecorded when the club is out, but more than is recorded when the clubis in the bag. By considering readings from other light sensors, such asthe ones that record light entering from the sides of the tag, theprocessing system can determine that the club is in fact out of the bag.

Orientation of Light Sensors

The one or more light sensors can be mounted so that their sensor areapoints directly upwards toward the cover. The light sensors can bemounted on a single side of the printed circuit board with sensorspointing away from the printed circuit board. Alternatively, referringto FIG. 19D, the light sensors can be mounted on a single side of theprinted circuit board with the light sensing elements of the lightsensors protruding through an opening 1908 in the printed circuit board.Another option is to mount the light sensors so that their sensor areaspoint toward the sides of the tag.

Algorithms Optimized for Different Light Pipe Configurations

Different algorithms can be used to accurately determine the in-bag orout-of-bag status for a variety of tag and light pipe configurations.Some of these configurations include light entering from the sides ofthe tag only; other configurations include the light entering from thetop of the tag only; other configurations include a combination of lightentering from the sides and the top. Two or more light sensors, someconfigured to receive light directly from above, and some configured toreceive light from the sides of the tag, combined with various algorithmembodiments, similar to those described herein, allow for optimizationof in-bag and out-of-bag status accuracy. For example, when the lightenters from the side of the tag, there is light reaching the sensor whenthe tag is inside a translucent bag. The processing system adjusts thethreshold to this dark environment. Similarly, in low-light scenarios,such as dawn and dusk, the processing system adjusts its threshold tothe environment. In this way, the in-bag and out-of-bag statuses areaccurately determined. For the tag that allows light in through the topof the tag, there are more light variations, but when the club isin-bag, there is very little light reaching the sensor. This eliminatesany ambiguity in determining if the club is in the bag, even for highlytranslucent bags.

Light Sensing Algorithms Light Switch and Light Meter Operation

The club tags can use algorithms to determine whether the tag is in orout of the golf bag. These algorithms use information from the lightsensors (such as, for example, one light switch and one light meter) inthe club tags.

In one typical embodiment, initially the club tag is in a deep sleepmode, with its microcontroller in sleep mode and power to the lightmeter turned off. The light switch has a fixed threshold for light levelreadings that is very low, such as less than 10 Lux. A change to thelight switch wakes up the microcontroller. The microcontroller turns ona timer, and uses pulses from the timer to periodically turn on thelight meter circuit and take light level readings. The microcontrollerprocesses these readings, making decisions about light/dark status ofthe tag and in/out of the bag status. If it is determined that asignificant change in light occurred, the microcontroller enables thetransmitter to send data and status. The timer controls the intervalbetween the transmit bursts, and after a predetermined number of burstsor length of time, the transmitter is disabled. In one preferredembodiment, while the light switch senses light, the timer continues toprompt the microcontroller to take light meter readings and themicrocontroller watches for significant changes in light readings. Ifthe microcontroller determines that a significant change in light levelhas occurred, it uses the timing pulses from the timer to send out aseries of transmissions.

When the light switch indicates “light”, the light meter continuallytakes light level readings. A significant decrease in light, asdetermined by the algorithm within the microcontroller, will cause themicrocontroller to issue a transmission indicating a transition to dark,even if the light switch indicates otherwise. The light switch is set toswitch at a very low light reading, such as 10 Lux. It is possible forthe light switch to not switch to dark when inside a golf bag if the bagis light colored or translucent. In these cases, the light switch readslight, and the light meter continually takes light level readings. Thelight meter readings are evaluated to determine if a significant changein light has occurred. Based on this information the microprocessordetermines the in-bag or out-of-bag status.

When the light switch indicates “dark”, the microcontroller enables thetransmitter to send the “dark” data and status with multipletransmissions separated by intervals determined by the timer. In betweenmultiple transmissions, the microcontroller continues to take lightmeter readings to confirm that the tag remains in the dark; if not ittransmits a transition to light sequence. After the sequence oftransmissions indicating a transition to dark, the tag circuit isreturned to a deep sleep mode, in one embodiment. In another embodiment,the microcontroller continues to take light meter readings for a periodof time, for example 1 minute, before the tag circuit is returned to adeep sleep mode.

Optionally, the club tag can be configured to transmit multiple in-bagtransmissions, confirming that the club has been returned to the bag.Multiple in-bag confirmation transmissions may be helpful in somescenarios. For example, if a golf club is dropped into tall grass itcould potentially be dark enough for the club tag to mistakenly reportin-bag status. When the golfer leaves the area the golfer willeventually be out of range to receive the subsequent transmissionsconfirming in-bag status.

Algorithms in one embodiment evaluate light meter readings and storeaverage light meter readings to better determine light/dark status ofthe particular tag in a particular type bag. This averaging of dark(in-bag) and light (out-of-bag) light meter readings allows the tag togradually learn the characteristics of the environment within anindividual golfer's golf bag as well as the ambient light conditions ofeach particular golf game.

If the light switch detects a change in light level over or under apredetermined threshold, such as 10 Lux, the light switch wakes up themicrocontroller. If the light switch detects a light level greater thanthe predetermined threshold (indicating light), the microcontrollerreports that status of the tag is out-of-bag in some situations. If thelight switch detects a light level less than the predetermined threshold(indicating dark), the microcontroller reports that status of the tag isin-bag.

When the light switch indicates light or out-of-bag status, the lightmeter is activated. An internal timer wakes up the microcontroller atpredetermined intervals. For example, these intervals can be at 7.5seconds, 4 seconds, 1 second, etc. The microcontroller prompts the lightmeter to take light level readings at these predetermined intervals.Optionally the light level readings can occur at integer multiples ofthe predetermined timing intervals, not at every timer wake-up. Thelight meter continues to take light level readings at intervals untilthe light switch is returned to dark or in-bag status. When the lightswitch changes to dark or in-bag status, the light meter takes lightlevel readings at predetermined intervals for a fixed amount of time setby a clock in the microprocessor, for example 1 minute. After this fixedamount of time has elapsed, the light meter ceases to take readingsuntil the light switch indicates light or out-of-bag status. In analternate embodiment, a single light meter performs the combinedfunctions described for a light meter and light switch.

Algorithm Parameters

In some typical embodiments, the microcontroller algorithm uses some ofthe following parameters to determine in-bag versus out-of-bag status:

-   Meter: Current light meter reading, taken every time the    microcontroller wakes up, either from its internal timer or a change    in light switch reading (dark to light or light to dark); also    referred to as “Light Meter” in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E.-   Old Light Meter: Previous “Meter” (or “Light Meter”) reading, saved    in memory, as shown in FIGS. 7C, 7D, and 7E.-   Average: Exponential (weighted) average of all light meter readings.    See, for example, block 6.3 of FIG. 7B. “Average” in the example of    FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C is the running average of light meter values.-   Bright Average: Exponential average of light meter readings taken    when microcontroller determines tag is out-of-bag in one embodiment    illustrated by FIG. 7A or when light meter reading is above the    Threshold value in other embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7B, 7C, 7D    and 7E.-   Old Bright Average: Previous “Bright Average” value, saved in    memory, as shown in FIG. 7C.-   Dark Average: Exponential average of light meter readings taken when    microcontroller determines tag is in-bag in one embodiment    illustrated in FIG. 7A or when the light meter reading is below the    Threshold value in other embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7B, 7C,    7D, and 7E.-   Old Dark Average: Previous “Dark Average” value, saved in memory, as    shown in FIG. 7C.-   Difference: In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C,    the Difference value is the difference between the current light    meter reading and the Average of the light meter readings.    Difference=Absolute Value of (Meter−Average). In some embodiments,    as shown in FIGS. 7D and 7E, the Difference value is the difference    between the current light meter reading and the previous light meter    reading. Difference=Absolute Value of (Meter−Old Light Meter).    Difference value is always a positive number and is also referred to    as “Diff” in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E.-   Change: In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, “Change” is equal    to the Average light meter value divided by 4, but never less than a    value of 16. Change=Average/4 but not less than 16. In other    embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E, Change is equal    to a fixed value, e.g. 8 or 16 or 32, as shown in blocks 9.6.2 and    9.6.5, when the range for light values (and hence the range for the    bright average and the dark average and the running average of light    meter values) is between 0 and 255. The Difference value is compared    to the Change value in blocks 9.6.2 and 9.6.5.-   Threshold: A numerical value about half-way, in one embodiment,    between the Bright Average and the Dark Average. (Bright    Average+Dark Average)/2. The Threshold is set to be some position    between these two averages and need not be at the half-way point;    for example, it can be ⅔ or ⅓ of the sum of the two averages.    Alternatively, the Threshold may be set a fixed value above the Dark    Average.

Algorithm Flow Diagram, FIG. 7A

A specific embodiment will now be described, in conjunction with FIG.7A, as an example of a method of the present invention, and otheralternative embodiments can employ different operations and differentparameters, in a different sequence, etc. in a manner that is consistentwith a general method of the invention. Referring to the Flow Diagram inFIG. 7A, the tag is awakened from sleep 701 by either a change to thelight switch or a prompt by the timer. The processing from the wakeupstarts in block 4.0 and 5.0. The processor averages the light switchreading and directs the light meter to take a reading in block 6.2.

If the processor was awakened by a change in the light switch, theprocessor assesses light switch status (light or dark) in block 8.1, andprevious light switch status in blocks 8.1 and 8.3. Based on thatinformation, the processor determines if the status should change toout-of-bag or in-bag (blocks 8.4.3 and 8.2.2) and adds light meterreading to Bright Average (block 8.2.3) or Dark Average (block 8.4.1).The processor then transmits the tag data and status (block 11).

Using the light meter to determining IN or OUT of bag is, in oneembodiment, a two-part process, consisting of:

-   -   Part 1: Light meter takes light level reading 703, and        microcontroller evaluates the change in light level.        -   If the current tag state is in-bag—If the Difference is less            than the Change value (indicating a small increase in            light), then the microcontroller updates the Dark Average            (block 9.1.1) and goes back to sleep. But if the Difference            is greater than the Change value (indicating a significant            increase in light), then the microcontroller proceeds to            Part 2.        -   If the current tag state is out-of-bag—If the Difference is            less than the Change value (indicating a small decrease in            light), then the microcontroller updates the Bright Average            (block 9.4.4) and goes back to sleep. But if the Difference            is greater than the Change value (indicating a significant            decrease in light), then the microcontroller proceeds to            Part 2.    -   Part 2: The microcontroller then compares the current light        meter reading with the Threshold (blocks 9.3.2 and 9.4.2).        -   If the current tag state is in-bag—If the light meter            reading is above the Threshold, then the tag transmits            out-of-bag status (block 9.3.3), else it returns to sleep            mode.        -   If the current tag state is out-of-bag—If the light meter            reading is below the Threshold, then the tag transmits            in-bag status (block 9.4.3), else it returns to sleep mode.

If the processor was awakened by a prompt from the timer, the lightswitch status is checked (block 9.1). If the light switch indicateslight, the processor calculates the Difference, which is the light meterreading minus the Average (block 9.2.2). This Difference value is usedto determine if the change was large enough to change the status of thetag to out-of-bag or in-bag. On the Flow Chart in FIG. 7A, the pathsthrough blocks 9.3.1-9.3.2-9.3.3 and 9.4.1-9.4.2-9.4.3 compare theDifference value to a Change value, which is the Average value dividedby 4, for example, and compare the light meter reading to a Threshold,which is, for example, halfway between the Dark Average and BrightAverage. The result is that the status is changed when the Difference isgreater than, for example, a 25 percent change in the Average value, andalso the light meter value crosses a Threshold set by both Bright andDark Averages.

The Algorithm uses, in one embodiment, exponential averaging of lightmeter values to determine Bright and Dark Averages. The Average is arunning average which is exponentially weighted to give more weight tomore recent readings. These averages change based on the levels of lightin and out of the golf bag. Because of their inherent changes, it isdesirable, in one embodiment, to put maximum and minimum limits aroundthese averages. In one typical embodiment, the Dark Average maximum islimited to 127 LSBs (least significant bits) in the analog-to-digitalconverter, as shown in blocks 8.4.2 and 9.1.2 in FIG. 7A. The BrightAverage minimum is limited to the value of the Dark Average plus 32LSBs, as shown in block 9.4.5 in FIG. 7A. In this way, the Dark Averageis never greater than the Bright Average, and the threshold created fromthe two averages is in fact a value greater than the Dark Average andless than the Bright Average. These limitations on the values of Darkand Bright Averages guarantee valid threshold values and prevent errorstates in the microprocessor.

The Algorithm defines a minimum light meter value for a “light” readingor out-of-the-bag status as 32 LSBs in the analog-to-digital converter,as shown in block 8.2.1 in FIG. 7A. In the current embodiment, the valueof 32 LSBs as a minimum value to determine out-of-the-bag status givesvalid readings for a wide range of user scenarios, including golfing attwilight and using a light-colored or translucent golf bag.Alternatively other minimum values of light meter values may be used tooptimize the system.

Algorithm Flow Diagrams, Light Sensing Algorithms

Some typical embodiments will now be described, in conjunction withFIGS. 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, and 7K, as examples of methods of the presentinvention, and other alternative embodiments can employ differentoperations and different parameters, in a different sequence, etc. in amanner that is consistent with a general method of the invention. Thevarious embodiments describe optimization of the algorithm forperformance in different mechanical configurations of tag that representdifferent techniques of illuminating the one or more light sensors.

Algorithm Flow Diagram, Radial Light Pipe

One typical embodiment uses an algorithm, shown in the Flow Diagram inFIG. 7B, that is optimized for a tag with a radial light pipe, such thatthe light enters only from the sides of the tag and not from the top ofthe tag as shown in FIG. 2. The at least one light sensor can beconfigured to activate (e.g. wake up) the processing system from a sleepstate (e.g. a dark sleep state in which the processing system issubstantially off and not consuming power) and can be configured toprovide a current light meter value. The current light meter value canrepresent a measurement of the currently received light by the at leastone light sensor, and the light sensor can be configured (e.g., throughcommands from the processing system) to repeatedly measure the currentlight and provide current light meter values over time.

In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can include at least two lightsensors: a first light sensor which acts as a light switch and wakes upthe processing system from a deep or dark sleep state and a second lightsensor which acts as a light meter and provides a sequence, over time,of current light meter values to the processing system when it is not inthe deep or dark sleep state. Referring to the Flow Diagram in FIG. 7B,the tag is awakened from sleep 706 by either a change to a light switchor a prompt by a timer. The processor averages the light switch readingand directs the light meter to take a reading in blocks 6 and 6.3 inFIG. 7B. The current light meter reading is added to the running averageof light meter values to create the value “Average.”

If the processor was awakened by a change in the light switch, theprocessor assesses light switch status (light or dark) in block 8.1 a,and previous light switch status in blocks 8.1 b and 8.3 in FIG. 7B.Based on that information, the processor performs tests to determine ifthe status should change to in-bag or out-of-bag (blocks 8.4.5, 9.5.1,9.6.3 b, and 9.6.6 b in FIG. 7B) or if the status should stay the same.The processor also adds light meter reading to Bright Average (block9.2.4) when the light meter reading is above a threshold; or adds lightmeter reading to Dark Average (block 9.2.1) when the light meter readingis below a threshold; or adds the light meter reading to the DarkAverage (block 8.4.1) if the light switch transition is from light todark. The threshold in these methods may be a floating threshold. Theprocessor prompts the transmitter to transmits the tag data and status(block 10.1) if the in-bag or out-of-bag status has changed.

The processing system can be configured to calculate a floatingthreshold as a value between the bright average and the dark average.This floating threshold is used, by the processing system, to determine,by comparing the current light meter value to the floating threshold,whether to add the current light meter value to the bright average or tothe dark average. The processing system, in one embodiment, adds thecurrent light meter value to the bright average when the current lightmeter value is greater than the floating threshold, as shown in block9.2.4, and it adds the current light meter value to the dark averagewhen the current light meter value is less than the floating threshold,as shown in block 9.2.1 in FIG. 7B. In one embodiment, the brightaverage and the dark average are each running averages that change overtime by adding the current light meter value to one or the other averagein the manner described herein based upon the comparison to the floatingthreshold. The floating threshold allows the processing system to adjustto changing light levels over time (e.g., dark clouds dissipate and thelight level increases, etc.), and the use of the floating threshold todetermine which average (the bright average or the dark average) toupdate allows the system to update the proper average and avoidssituations in which an average becomes distorted over time due tosituations in which a current light meter value that is generated from,for example, an in-bag (dark) status gets added to the bright average(or another situation in which a current light meter value, generatedwhile the golf club is out of the bag, gets added to the dark average).These errors tend to distort one or both averages which can result inerrors in determining the status of the golf club relative to thecontainer (e.g. golf club bag) for the golf club. It will be understoodthat the phrase “golf club bag” is meant to include any container tohold the golf club, such as a compartment, in a golf cart, for holdinggolf clubs.

In one embodiment, the floating threshold can be set as a value which isabout one-half way between the bright average and the dark average. Forexample, the floating threshold can be set to be 50% (exactly one-halfway) or 55% or 65% or 45% or 35% between the bright average and the darkaverage; when the floating threshold is set at 55% or 65% (or othervalues above 50%) of the distance between the bright and dark averages,it is closer to the bright average than it is to the dark average, andwhen the floating threshold is set at 45% or 35% (or other values below50%) of the distance between the bright and dark averages, it is closerto the dark average than it is to the light average.

Different sleep states can be implemented based on the light conditionsand the golf club status (in-bag or out-of-bag). When the status isout-of-bag or in-bag, the apparatus can be in light sleep, entering andexiting light sleep to check the light meter value to determine if theclub status has changed. When the status transitions to in-bag and thelight switch is off, the apparatus can enter light sleep for a period oftime, e.g. one minute, checking for a change of status. After the periodof time, the apparatus can exit light sleep state and enter deep sleepstate in which only a few components are consuming a minimal amount ofpower. If the apparatus status is in-bag, and the light switch is notoff, the periodic measurement of the light meter determines if asignificant change has occurred, and the algorithm determines if thestatus should be changed.

In one embodiment which uses a floating, or a fixed, threshold, theapparatus can have a sleep state that exists when the golf club tag isin a prolonged dark state (e.g., the status is in-bag), and this sleepstate can be referred to as a dark sleep state or a deep sleep state. Itis a dark sleep state because the status of the tag is in-bag (meaningthat the tag should be in the dark or relative darkness); it is a deepsleep state because only a few components are actively consuming power(e.g. a light switch to wake up a portion of the processing system todetermine whether to exit the dark sleep state). The apparatus can alsohave a light sleep state which exists when the golf club tag is enteringand exiting the light sleep state to determine if the status of the golfclub has changed. In the light sleep state a few components are activelyconsuming power (e.g. a timer to wake up a light sensor and a portion ofthe processing system). The tag consumes, in one embodiment, more powerin the light sleep state than it consumes in the dark sleep state; thisdifference in power consumption can be a result of a timer being on(consuming power) in the light sleep state and being off (not consumingpower) in the dark sleep state. Another difference between the lightsleep state and the dark sleep state can be the memory which storesaverages and other values; this memory can be on during the light sleepstate and off during the dark sleep state. The light sleep state canoccur during an in-bag state or during an out-of-bag state. A timer canbe coupled to the processing system (for example, a timer can be part ofthe processing system), and this timer can be used to exit the lightsleep state when the timer times out, thereby causing the tag to enterthe deep sleep state. When the state is out-of-bag or in-bag, theapparatus can be in the light sleep state, entering and exiting lightsleep to determine if the status of the golf club has changed. In one orboth sleep states, the transmitter can be off (or otherwise be operatingat reduced power consumption levels) and all or portions of theprocessing system can be off (or otherwise be operating at reduced powerconsumption levels).

In one embodiment, the processing system in the golf club tag can beconfigured to determine a difference between the current light metervalue and a running average of light meter values from a light sensor(e.g. the second light sensor in those embodiments using 2 lightsensors). The difference (which can be expressed as an absolute value)is then compared to a change value (e.g., see comparisons shown in 9.6.2b and 9.6.5 b in FIG. 7B,) to determine whether there has been asignificant enough change to warrant a change in status (of the golfclub relative to the golf club bag) by then performing a comparison ofthe current light meter value to the floating threshold if there hasbeen a significant enough change, as shown in blocks 9.6.3 a and 9.6.6 ain FIG. 7B. If the difference is not significant enough (e.g. thedifference is smaller than the change value) then the status is notchanged, in one embodiment, and the current light meter value is notcompared to the floating threshold. In one embodiment, the change valueis fixed (e.g. at 8, or another value, when the dark and bright averagescan have values between 0 and 255, subject to other constraintsdescribed herein) and in another embodiment, the change value can varyby calculating the change value based on the running average of lightmeter values.

If the processor was awakened by a prompt from the timer or light switchtransition, the light switch status is checked, as shown in block 9.4 inFIG. 7B. If the light switch indicates dark, the processor enters alight or deep sleep state. If the light switch indicates light, theprocessor calculates the Difference value, which is the absolute valueof the light meter reading minus the Average (block 9.6.1 or 9.6.4),which is a positive number. This Difference value is used to determineif the change was large enough to change the status of the tag toout-of-bag or in-bag. On the Flow Chart in FIG. 7B, the paths throughblocks 9.6.1-9.6.2 b-9.6.3 a and 9.6.4-9.6.5 b-9.6.6 a compare theDifference value to a Change value, which may be a fixed value of, forexample, 8, in a typical embodiment, and compares the Light Meterreading to a Threshold, which is, for example, halfway between the DarkAverage and Bright Average. The result is that the status is changedwhen the Difference is greater than, for example, a value of 8, and alsothe Light Meter value crosses a Threshold set by both Bright and DarkAverages.

Referring to FIG. 7B, using the light meter to determining IN or OUT ofbag is, in a typical embodiment, a two-part process, consisting of:

-   -   Part 1: Light meter takes light level reading 707, and        microcontroller (or other implementations of a processing        system) evaluates the light level. The status of the light        switch is evaluated to determine if the processor was awakened        by a timer prompt or a change state of the light switch, as        shown in block 7.1. If the wake up occurred because of a        momentary flash of light or darkness, the processor re-enters a        sleep state. If the wake up is not caused by a momentary flash        of light or darkness, the Light Meter reading is compared to a        Threshold, as shown in block 9.2 in FIG. 7B. In this embodiment,        the Threshold is a floating threshold and is a value half way        between the Dark and Bright Averages, as shown in block 9.1.1 in        FIG. 7B. Based on a comparison of the Light Meter reading to the        Threshold, the Light Meter reading is added to the Bright        Average or to the Dark Average. If the Light Meter reading is        greater than the Threshold, the reading is added to the Bright        Average, as shown in block 9.2.4. If the Light Meter reading is        less than the Threshold, the reading is added to the Dark        Average, as shown in block 9.2.1. The Bright Average is        constrained to a value of at least 32 greater than the value of        the Dark Average, as shown in block 9.2.6. The Dark Average is        constrained to be less than a value of 127 in this embodiment,        as shown in block 9.2.5.    -   A Difference value is calculated, which is the absolute value of        the difference between the current Light Meter reading and the        Average in one embodiment, as shown in boxes 9.6.1 and 9.6.4 in        FIG. 7B. The Difference is compared to a Change value, which can        be a fixed value, such as 8 or 16, or a variable value, such as        the Average divided by 4.        -   If the Difference value is less than the Change value            (indicating a small increase or decrease in light), then the            microcontroller goes back to sleep. But if the Difference is            greater than the Change value (indicating a significant            increase or decrease in light), then the microcontroller            proceeds to Part 2.    -   Part 2: The microcontroller then compares the current Light        Meter reading with the floating Threshold (blocks 9.6.3 a and        9.6.6 a in FIG. 7B).        -   If the current tag state is in-bag—If the Light Meter            reading is above the Threshold, then the tag sets and            transmits out-of-bag status (blocks 9.6.3 b and 10.1), else            it returns to sleep mode.        -   If the current tag state is out-of-bag—If the Light Meter            reading is below the Threshold, then the tag sets and            transmits in-bag status (blocks 9.6.6 b and 10.1), else it            returns to sleep mode.

When the tag transmits an in-bag or out-of bag status, the processorprompts the transmitter to transmit multiple bursts of the same data,for example 4 bursts in this embodiment, as shown in block 11.2. Thedata includes, in one embodiment, one or more of the unique identifierof the tag, the in-bag or out-of golf bag status, and the current LightMeter reading. Other embodiments may include transmitting additionaldata, such as one or more of values of averagers, difference value, andlight switch status or less data.

Averagers

The Algorithm uses, in one embodiment, exponential averaging of LightMeter values to determine Bright and Dark Averages. The Average, in oneembodiment, is a running average which is exponentially weighted to givemore weight to more recent readings. The averages change based on thelevels of light in and out of the golf bag. Because of their inherentchanges, it is desirable, in a typical embodiment, to put maximum andminimum limits around these averages. In one embodiment, the DarkAverage maximum is limited to a value of 127, or 127 LSBs (leastsignificant bits) in the analog-to-digital converter, as shown in blocks8.4.2 and 9.2.5 in FIG. 7B. The Bright Average minimum is limited to thevalue of the Dark Average plus 32 LSBs, as shown in block 9.2.6 in FIG.7B. In this way, the Dark Average is never greater than the BrightAverage, and the threshold created from the two averages is in fact avalue greater than the Dark Average and less than the Bright Average.These limitations on the values of Dark and Bright Averages guaranteevalid threshold values and prevent error states in the microprocessor.

Reseed Averagers on Wake-Up from Deep Sleep

In one embodiment, the processing system is configured to use at leastone re-seeded running average after exiting from a sleep state which istypically the deep sleep state. In other words, rather than using thelast running average value (e.g. the last value for the running averageof light meter values), the processing system, after an exit from asleep state, uses an initial (e.g. preset and predetermined) value asthe running average of light meter values to begin the next runningaverage value for that running average, as shown in FIG. 7B block 8.2 b.The initial value for each running average can be considered a reset orinitial value for the particular running average and acts as a seed forthe running average. Hence, a reset value for the dark average can beused as the dark average value after an exit from the deep sleep state,and a reset value for the bright average can be used as the brightaverage value after an exit from the deep sleep state, and a reset valuefor the running average of light meter values can be used as the runningaverage of light meter values after an exit from the deep sleep state.In one embodiment, the reset values are used as the initial value foreach running average after each exit or awakening from a deep sleepstate but they are not used after each exit or awakening from a lightsleep state; the exit from the light sleep state may occur in responseto a timer's timing out while the golf club tag is in an out-of-bagstate or status, and in this case the running averages are notre-seeded. Another exit from the light sleep state typically occurs inresponse to a timer's timing out while the golf club tag is in anin-the-bag state or status, during which time the tag stays in a lightsleep state for a period of time before entering a deep sleep state. Inone embodiment, the golf club tag will remain in a light sleep state forone minute after entering the golf bag in order to learn its darkenvironment and to have updated averager information in the event thatthe club is removed from the bag before entering deep sleep. In thiscase the running averages are not re-seeded. The exit from the deepsleep state typically occurs when the first light sensor (which acts asa light switch) awakens the processing system while the golf club tag isin an in-bag state.

A method, according to an embodiment which uses re-seeded runningaverages, can include the following operations: exiting, at a firsttime, a sleep state (e.g. a deep sleep state) of a golf club tag;calculating and storing a first bright average, which is a runningaverage, after exiting the sleep state at the first time, the firstbright average being seeded by a bright initial value; calculating andstoring a first dark average, which is also a running average, afterexiting the sleep state at the first time, the first dark average beingseeded by a dark initial value; calculating and storing a first runningaverage of light meter values after exiting the sleep state at the firsttime, the first running average of light meter values being seeded by aninitial running average value; entering the sleep state at a secondtime, which is after the first time, the sleep state being entered inresponse to determining that a golf club, which is coupled to the golfclub tag, has been returned to a golf club bag; exiting, at a third timewhich is after the second time, the sleep state; calculating and storinga second bright average, which is a running average, after exiting thesleep state at the third time, the second bright average being re-seededby the bright initial value; calculating and storing a second darkaverage, which is also a running average, after exiting the sleep stateat the third time, the second dark average being re-seeded by the darkinitial value; calculating and storing a second running average of lightmeter values after exiting the sleep state at the third time, the secondrunning average of light meter values being re-seeded by the initialrunning average value; and determining a change of status of the golfclub relative to the golf club bag based upon a current light metervalue and transmitting, in response to determining the change of status,an identifier of the golf club and an indicator of the status which isone of (a) in-bag or (b) out-of-bag. The transmitting can be performedat least two times over a period of time before the golf club tag entersa light sleep state, and a timer can be configured to wake up the golfclub tag from the light sleep state to determine if the status, of thegolf club relative to the golf club bag, has changed and wherein thesecond bright average, the second dark average and the second runningaverage of light meter values are not re-seeded after exiting the lightsleep state. This method can also include receiving a current lightmeter value (e.g., from the second light sensor) and determining, bycomparing the current light meter value to a floating threshold, whetherto add the current light meter value to the second bright average (ifthe current light meter value is above the floating threshold) or to thesecond dark average (if the current light meter value is below thefloating threshold) and adding the current light meter value to thesecond running average of light meter values and determining adifference between the current light meter value and the second runningaverage of light meter values, and comparing the difference to a changevalue (e.g. a fixed value) to determine whether to change the status.This method can be used with a golf club tag which includes a full orpartial circumferential window around the side of a portion of a golfclub grip or cap for the grip; this window is the entry point for alight pipe which directs light to one or more light sensors in the golfclub tag.

FIG. 7J shows a simplified flow chart according to one embodiment of theinvention in which one or more running averages are reseeded with apredetermined initial value after the system awakes from a sleep state,such as a deep sleep state as described herein. In operation 820, a golfclub tag exits, at a first time, a sleep state, such as a deep sleepstate. This can occur as a result of a golf club being removed from agolf bag, thereby exposing one or more light sensors in the golf clubtag to light as has been described herein. Then in operation 822, thesystem within the golf club tag calculates and stores, after exiting atthe first time, a first bright running average which is seeded by abright initial average, and the system also calculates and stores afirst dark running average which is seeded by a dark initial average.These averages are used as described herein to determine whether or notthe status of the golf club changes and to determine whether or not thegolf club has been returned to the golf bag. When the golf club isdetermined to be returned to a golf bag then, in operation 824, thesystem within the golf club tag enters, at a second time which is afterthe first time, the sleep state again. The golf club remains in thesleep state until operation 826 in which it exits again, at a third timeafter the second time, the sleep state because the club has been removedagain from the golf club bag. At this point, in operation 828, thesystem reseeds the running averages with the appropriate initialaverage. In particular, the golf club tag in operation 828 calculatesand stores, after exiting at the third time, a second bright runningaverage which can be different than the first bright running average andwhich is seeded by the bright initial average which is the same brightinitial average used in operation 822. Similarly, the golf club tag inoperation 828 calculates and stores, after exiting at the second time, asecond dark running average which can be different than the first darkrunning average but which is seeded with the same dark initial averagewhich was used in operation 822. In this manner, the running averagesare reseeded after each exit from, in this embodiment, the deep sleepstate; in one embodiment, the running averages are not reseeded uponexiting from the light sleep state as has been described herein.

Significant Change, Reseed Averagers, Re-Transmit—FIG. 7C

Another specific embodiment will now be described, in conjunction withFIG. 7C, as an example of a method of the present invention, and otheralternative embodiments can employ different operations and differentparameters, in a different sequence, etc. in a manner that is consistentwith general methods of the invention. This specific embodiment includestechniques in the program to adjust for certain conditions, such astranslucent bags in which the club tag is exposed to a moderate tosignificant amount of light while the tag is in the bag or changingconditions such as moving from bright sunlight to dark shade.

There are scenarios in which the in-bag or out-of-bag status may bereported incorrectly, such as when the club is inside a translucent golfbag that allows a moderate amount of light inside. In this case, whenthe club is in the bag and the bag is moved from a dark area to a brightarea, the club tag may make the decision that the club status isout-of-bag, based on an increase in light, even though the club remainsinside the golf bag. Another scenario is when the club is out of thebag, and the club is moved from bright sunlight into dark shade. In thiscase, when the club is moved into the shade, the club tag may make thedecision that the club status is in-bag, based on a decrease in light,even though the club remains outside of the golf bag.

Significant Increase in Light

A method according to one embodiment to address these incorrectreporting events of in or out status is as follows. After eachprocessing of Light Meter reading and determining in-bag or out-of-bagstatus, the processor stores the Light Meter (or Meter) reading and thevalues of Dark Average and Bright Average as Old Light Meter, Old DarkAverage, and Old Bright Average respectively in one embodiment, as shownin block 711 in FIG. 7C. Alternate embodiments may store any one or moreof these readings. If the current bag status is out-of-bag, and the clubtag encounters a substantial increase in the light level as measured bythe light meter, certain actions are taken. A substantial increase inlight, checked in block 812 in FIG. 7C, may be defined as a differencebetween the current Light Meter value and the previous Light Meter valuethat is greater than a predetermined value, such as 64 on a scale of 0to 255. If a substantial increase in light has occurred, the averagersare updated as shown in 822: the Dark Average is replaced with the valueof the previous Bright Average, but the Dark Average is limited to amaximum value, such as 127 on a scale between 0 and 255. The BrightAverage is replaced with the new Light Meter reading, but the BrightAverage must be at least a predetermined value, such as 32, greater thanthe Dark Average. The Running Average is replaced with a value betweenthe new Dark Average and the new Bright average. This value may beone-half way between the new Dark and Bright Averages or some othervalue between the two. Updating the averager values makes an adjustmentthat corrects for a previous incorrect decision of out-of-bag status.For a substantial increase in light, the club tag assumes that itsprevious out-of-bag status was incorrect, and the averagers are adjustedto values that correspond to the actual previous status. That is, whenthe previous status was out-of-bag, and the tag sees a substantialincrease in light, it assumes that the previous state was actuallyin-bag. In this case, the Dark Average should have been updated duringthe in-bag status, but because the status was incorrect, the BrightAverage was incorrectly updated. On realizing the error, the Dark,Bright and Running Averages are updated to correspond with the actualincorrect previous and current correct values. The club tag sends a newtransmission, block 10.1, that indicates that the status is out-of-bagas previously set by block 9.6.3 b in FIG. 7C. The golf device receivingthis status would note that it is the same status as the previouslytransmitted status. The device would display this new status again whichwould confirm the out-of-bag status. In the event of a missed initialtransmission, this new transmission would provide the correct status.This might occur if the club tag changed its status before the golfdevice was powered on, such as might happen before a round of golf.

Significant Decrease in Light

Similarly, if the current bag status is in-bag, and the club tagencounters a substantial decrease in the light level as measured by thelight meter, certain actions are taken. A substantial decrease in light,checked in decision block 810 in FIG. 7C, may be defined as a differencebetween the previous Light Meter value and the current Light Meter valuethat is greater than a predetermined value, such as 64 on a scale of 0to 255. If a substantial decrease in light has occurred, the averagersare updated as shown in block 820 in FIG. 7C: The Dark Average isreplaced with the new Light Meter reading, but the Dark Average islimited to a minimum value, such as 10 on a scale of 0 to 255. TheBright Average is replaced with the value of the previous Dark Average,but the Bright Average must be a predetermined value, such as 32,greater than the Dark Average. The Running Average is replaced with avalue between the new Dark Average and the new Bright average. Thisvalue may be one-half way between the new Dark and Bright Averages orsome other value between the two. Updating the averager values makes anadjustment that corrects for an incorrect decision of in-bag status. Fora substantial decrease in light, the club tag assumes that its previousin-bag status was incorrect, and the averagers are adjusted to valuesthat correspond to the actual previous status. In one embodiment anaverager can be processing logic (such as a microcontroller) programmedwith software to cause the processing logic to calculate one or moreaverages. That is, when the previous status was in-bag, and the tag seesa substantial decrease in light, it assumes that the previous state wasactually out-of-bag. In this case, the Bright Average should have beenupdated during the out-of-bag status, but because the status wasincorrect, the Dark Average was incorrectly updated. On realizing theerror, the Dark, Bright and Running Averages are updated to correspondwith the actual incorrect previous and current correct values. The clubtag sends a new transmission, block 10.1, that indicates that the statusis in-bag, as previously set by block 9.6.6 b, 9.5.1, or 8.4.5 in FIG.7C. The golf device receiving this status would note that it is the samestatus as the previously transmitted status. The device would displaythis new status again which would confirm the in-bag status. In theevent of a missed initial transmission, this new transmission wouldprovide the correct status.

Solve Significant Change in Light—Initialize Golf Device at Start ofRound

A technique may be used to avoid incorrect in-bag or out-of-bag statusreported by the golf GPS device. Before the round of golf, there may bean initialization of the golf device. The golfer would be prompted bythe device to start the round of golf, asking if all of the golfer'sclubs are present and in the bag. Answering affirmatively would resetall the club statuses in the GPS device to in-bag and eliminate anyerrored out-of-bag statuses reported previously.

Significant Change in Light: Re-Transmit Status, No Reload ofAveragers—FIG. 7D

In an alternate embodiment, on determining a significant change, asshown in blocks 810 and 812, the averagers are not reset with newvalues, as shown in FIG. 7D. In this embodiment, the processor causesthe transmitter to transmit an additional burst, shown in block 10.1with the current unchanged in-bag or out-of bag status. In the event ofa missed initial transmission of status by the golf device, thisadditional transmission would provide the correct status.

Algorithm Flow Diagram, Algorithm Optimized for Axial Light Pipe—FIG. 7D

One particular embodiment of the club tag is shown in FIG. 4B. The taghas an opening in the top so that light enters through the top only andnot through the sides of the tag. This configuration, in one embodiment,gives more variation in light meter readings under various conditions.The algorithm can take advantage of these variations. In thisembodiment, when the tag is inside a golf bag the light meter readingsare very low, because the light only enters through the top of the tag.When the tag is inverted and resting on the bottom of the golf bag, thelight entering through the top is very limited.

The algorithm in FIG. 7D is one embodiment of an optimization for thetag that has light entering from the top only and not from the sides ofthe tag. The Difference value is a comparison of current Light Meterreading to the previous Light Meter reading (blocks 9.6.1 d and 9.6.4 din FIG. 7D), instead of to the Average, so the Average is notimplemented. In this embodiment, the Threshold is configured to be onethird of the way between the Dark and Bright Averages, as shown in block9.1.2. That is, the Threshold is closer to the Dark Average than to theBright Average. In this way the threshold is weighted toward the DarkAverage, enabling the algorithm to respond to the darker environmentinside the golf bag and accurately assess changes to the in-bag orout-of-bag status.

The at least one light sensor can be configured to activate (e.g. wakeup) the processing system from a sleep state (e.g. a dark sleep state inwhich the processing system is substantially off and not consumingpower) and can be configured to provide a current light meter value. Thecurrent light meter value can represent a measurement of the currentlyreceived light by the at least one light sensor, and the light sensorcan be configured (e.g., through commands from the processing system) torepeatedly measure the current light and provide current light metervalues over time.

In a typical embodiment, the apparatus can include at least two lightsensors: a first light sensor which acts as a light switch and wakes upthe processing system from a deep or dark sleep state and a second lightsensor which acts as a light meter and provides a sequence, over time,of current light meter values to the processing system when it is not inthe deep or dark sleep state. Referring to the Flow Diagram in FIG. 7D,the tag is awakened from sleep 706 by either a change to a light switchor a prompt by a timer. The processor averages the light switch readingand directs the light meter to take a reading in blocks 6 and 6.4 inFIG. 7D.

If the processor was awakened by a change in the light switch, theprocessor assesses light switch status (light or dark) in block 8.1 a,and previous light switch status in blocks 8.1 b and 8.3 in FIG. 7D.Based on that information, the processor performs tests to determine ifthe status should change to in-bag or out-of-bag (blocks 8.4.5, 9.5.1,9.6.3 b, and 9.6.6 b in FIG. 7D) or if the status should stay the same.The processor also adds the Light Meter reading to Bright Average (block9.2.4) when the Light Meter reading is above a threshold; or adds theLight Meter reading to Dark Average (block 9.2.1) when the light meterreading is below a Threshold. The Threshold in these methods may be afloating threshold. The processor prompts the transmitter to transmitsthe tag data and status (block 10.1) if the in-bag or out-of-bag statushas changed.

The processing system can be configured to calculate a floatingthreshold as a value between the bright average and the dark average.This floating threshold is used, by the processing system, to determine,by comparing the current light meter value to the floating threshold,whether to add the current light meter value to the bright average or tothe dark average. The processing system, in one embodiment, adds thecurrent light meter value to the bright average when the current lightmeter value is greater than the floating threshold, as shown in block9.2.4, and it adds the current light meter value to the dark averagewhen the current light meter value is less than the floating threshold,as shown in block 9.2.1. in FIG. 7D. In one embodiment, the brightaverage and the dark average are each running averages that change overtime by adding the current light meter value to one or the other averagein the manner described herein based upon the comparison to the floatingthreshold. The floating threshold allows the processing system to adjustto changing light levels over time (e.g., dark clouds dissipate and thelight level increases, etc.), and the use of the floating threshold todetermine which average (the bright average or the dark average) toupdate allows the system to update the proper average and avoidssituations in which an average becomes distorted over time due tosituations in which a current light meter value that is generated from,for example, an in-bag (dark) status gets added to the bright average(or another situation in which a current light meter value, generatedwhile the golf club is out of the bag, gets added to the dark average).These errors tend to distort one or both averages which can result inerrors in determining the status of the golf club relative to thecontainer (e.g. golf club bag) for the golf club. It will be understoodthat the phrase “golf club bag” is meant to include any container tohold the golf club, such as a compartment, in a golf cart, for holdinggolf clubs.

In one embodiment, the floating threshold can be set as a value which isabout one-third of the way between the dark average and the brightaverage. For example, the floating threshold can be set to be 33%(one-third of the way) above the dark average and 67% (one-third of theway) below the bright average. In this embodiment, the threshold iscloser to the dark average than it is to the bright average.

Different sleep states can be implemented based on the light conditionsand the golf club status (in-bag or out-of-bag). When the status isout-of-bag or in-bag, the apparatus can be in light sleep, entering andexiting light sleep to check the light meter value to determine if theclub status has changed. When the status transitions to in-bag and thelight switch is off, the apparatus can enter light sleep for a period oftime, e.g. one minute, checking for a change of status. After the periodof time, the apparatus can exit light sleep state and enter deep sleepstate in which only a few components are consuming a minimal amount ofpower. If the apparatus status is in-bag, and the light switch is notoff, the periodic measurement of the light meter determines if asignificant change has occurred, and the algorithm determines if thestatus should be changed.

In one embodiment which uses a floating, or a fixed, threshold, theapparatus can have a sleep state that exists when the golf club tag isin a prolonged dark state (e.g., the status is in-bag), and this sleepstate can be referred to as a dark sleep state or a deep sleep state. Itis a dark sleep state because the status of the tag is in-bag (meaningthat the tag should be in the dark or relative darkness); it is a deepsleep state because only a few components are actively consuming power(e.g. a light switch to wake up a portion of the processing system todetermine whether to exit the dark sleep state). The apparatus can alsohave a light sleep state which exists when the golf club tag is enteringand exiting the light sleep state to determine if the status of the golfclub has changed. In the light sleep state a few components are activelyconsuming power (e.g. a timer to wake up a light sensor and a portion ofthe processing system). The light sleep state can occur during an in-bagstate or during an out-of-bag state. A timer can be coupled to theprocessing system (for example, a timer can be part of the processingsystem), and this timer can be used to exit the light sleep state whenthe timer times out. When the state is out-of-bag or in-bag, theapparatus can be in the light sleep state, entering and exiting lightsleep to determine if the status of the golf club has changed. In one orboth sleep states, the transmitter can be off (or otherwise be operatingat reduced power consumption levels) and all or portions of theprocessing system can be off (or otherwise be operating at reduced powerconsumption levels).

In one embodiment, the processing system in the golf club tag can beconfigured to determine a difference between the current light metervalue and a previous light meter value from a light sensor (e.g. thesecond light sensor in those embodiments using 2 light sensors). Thedifference (which can be expressed as an absolute value) is thencompared to a change value (e.g., see comparisons shown in 9.6.2 d and9.6.5 d in FIG. 7D,) to determine whether there has been a significantenough change to warrant a change in status (of the golf club relativeto the golf club bag) by then performing a comparison of the currentlight meter value to the floating threshold if there has been asignificant enough change, as shown in blocks 9.6.3 a and 9.6.6 a inFIG. 7D. If the difference is not significant enough (e.g. thedifference is smaller than the change value) then the status is notchanged, in one embodiment, and the current light meter value is notcompared to the floating threshold. In one embodiment, the change valueis fixed (e.g. at 16, or another value, when the dark and brightaverages can have values between 0 and 255, subject to other constraintsdescribed herein).

If the processor was awakened by a prompt from the timer or light switchtransition, the light switch status is checked, as shown in block 9.4 inFIG. 7D. If the light switch indicates dark, the processor enters alight or deep sleep state. If the light switch indicates light, theprocessor calculates the Difference value, which is the absolute valueof the light meter reading minus the Old, or previous, Light Meterreading (block 9.6.1 d or 9.6.4 d in FIG. 7D), which is a positivenumber. This Difference value is used to determine if the change waslarge enough to change the status of the tag to out-of-bag or in-bag. Onthe Flow Chart in FIG. 7D, the paths through blocks 9.6.1 d-9.6.2d-9.6.3 a and 9.6.4 d-9.6.5 d-9.6.6 a compare the Difference value to aChange value, which may be a fixed value of, for example, 16, in atypical embodiment, and compares the Light Meter reading to a Threshold,which is, for example, one third of the way between the Dark Average andBright Average, as shown in block 9.1.2 in FIG. 7D. The result is thatthe status is changed when the Difference is greater than, for example,a value of 16, and also the Light Meter value crosses a Threshold set byboth Bright and Dark Averages.

Referring to FIG. 7D, using the light meter to determining IN or OUT ofbag is, in a typical embodiment, a two-part process, consisting of:

-   -   Part 1: Light meter takes light level reading 708, and        microcontroller (or other implementations of a processing        system) evaluates the light level. The status of the light        switch is evaluated to determine if the processor was awakened        by a timer prompt or a change state of the light switch, as        shown in block 7.1. If the wake up occurred because of a        momentary flash of light or darkness, the processor re-enters a        sleep state. If the wake up is not caused by a momentary flash        of light or darkness, the Light Meter reading is compared to a        Threshold, as shown in block 9.2 in FIG. 7D. In this embodiment,        the Threshold is a floating threshold and is a value one third        of the way between the Dark and Bright Averagers, as shown in        block 9.1.2 in FIG. 7D. Based on a comparison of the Light Meter        reading to the Threshold, the Light Meter reading is added to        the Bright Average or to the Dark Average. If the Light Meter        reading is greater than the Threshold, the reading is added to        the Bright Average, as shown in block 9.2.4. If the Light Meter        reading is less than the Threshold, the reading is added to the        Dark Average, as shown in 9.2.1. The Bright Average is        constrained to a value of at least 32 greater than the value of        the Dark Average, as shown in block 9.2.6. The Dark Average is        constrained to be less than a value of 64 in this embodiment, as        shown in block 9.2.7.        -   A Difference value is calculated, which is the absolute            value of the difference between the current Light Meter            reading and the Old, or previous, Light Meter reading, as            shown in boxes 9.6.1 d and 9.6.4 d in FIG. 7D. The            Difference is compared to a Change value, which can be a            fixed value, such as 8 or 16, or a variable value, such as            the Average divided by 4.        -   If the Difference value is less than the Change value            (indicating a small increase or decrease in light), then the            microcontroller goes back to sleep. But if the Difference is            greater than the Change value (indicating a significant            increase or decrease in light), then the microcontroller            proceeds to Part 2.    -   Part 2: The microcontroller then compares the current Light        Meter reading with the floating Threshold (blocks 9.6.3 a and        9.6.6 a in FIG. 7D).        -   If the current tag state is in-bag—If the Light Meter            reading is above the Threshold, then the tag sets and            transmits out-of-bag status (blocks 9.6.3 b and 10.1 in FIG.            7D), else it returns to sleep mode.        -   If the current tag state is out-of-bag—If the Light Meter            reading is below the Threshold, then the tag sets and            transmits in-bag status (blocks 9.6.6 b and 10.1 in FIG.            7D), else it returns to sleep mode.        -   When the tag transmits an in-bag or out-of bag status, the            processor prompts the transmitter to transmit multiple            bursts of the same data, for example 4 bursts in this            embodiment, as shown in block 11.2. The data includes one of            more of the unique identifier of the tag, the in-bag or            out-of golf bag status, and the current Light Meter reading.            Other embodiments may include transmitting additional data,            such as one or more of values of averagers, difference            value, and light switch status.

Averagers

The Algorithm uses, in one embodiment, exponential averaging of LightMeter values to determine Bright and Dark Averages. The Average is arunning average which is exponentially weighted to give more weight tomore recent readings. The averages change based on the levels of lightin and out of the golf bag. Because of their inherent changes, it isdesirable, in a typical embodiment, to put maximum and minimum limitsaround these averages. In one embodiment, the Dark Average maximum islimited to a value of 64, or 64 LSBs (least significant bits) in theanalog-to-digital converter as shown in blocks 8.4.2 d and 9.2.7 in FIG.7D. The Bright Average minimum is limited to the value of the DarkAverage plus 32, as shown in block 9.2.4 in FIG. 7D. In this way, theDark Average is never greater than the Bright Average, and the Thresholdcreated from the two averages is in fact a value greater than the DarkAverage and less than the Bright Average. These limitations on thevalues of Dark and Bright Averages guarantee valid threshold values andprevent error states in the microprocessor.

Reseed Averagers on Wake-Up from Deep Sleep

In one embodiment, the processing system is configured to use at leastone re-seeded running average after exiting from a sleep state which istypically the deep sleep state. In other words, rather than using thelast running average value (e.g. the last value for the running averageof light meter values), the processing system, after an exit from asleep state, uses an initial (e.g. preset and predetermined) value asthe running average of light meter values to begin the next runningaverage value for that running average, as shown in FIG. 7D block 8.2 c.The initial value for each running average can be considered a reset orinitial value for the particular running average. Hence, a reset valuefor the dark average can be used as the dark average value after an exitfrom the deep sleep state, and a reset value for the bright average canbe used as the bright average value after an exit from the deep sleepstate, and a reset value for the running average of light meter valuescan be used as the running average of light meter values after an exitfrom the deep sleep state. In one embodiment, the reset values are usedas the initial value for each running average after each exit orawakening from a deep sleep state but they are not used after each exitor awakening from a light sleep state; the exit from the light sleepstate may occur in response to a timer's timing out while the golf clubtag is in an out-of-bag state or status, and in this case the runningaverages are not re-seeded. Another exit from the light sleep statetypically occurs in response to a timer's timing out while the golf clubtag is in an in-the-bag state or status, during which time the tag staysin a light sleep state for a period of time before entering a deep sleepstate. In one embodiment, the golf club tag will remain in a light sleepstate for one minute after entering the golf bag in order to learn itsdark environment and to have updated averager information in the eventthat the club is removed from the bag before entering deep sleep. Inthis case the running averages are not re-seeded. The exit from the deepsleep state typically occurs when the first light sensor (which acts asa light switch) awakens the processing system while the golf club tag isin an in-bag state.

A method, according to an embodiment which uses re-seeded runningaverages, can include the following operations: exiting, at a firsttime, a sleep state (e.g. a deep sleep state) of a golf club tag;calculating and storing a first bright average, which is a runningaverage, after exiting the sleep state at the first time, the firstbright average being seeded by a bright initial value; calculating andstoring a first dark average, which is also a running average, afterexiting the sleep state at the first time, the first dark average beingseeded by a dark initial value; calculating and storing a first runningaverage of light meter values after exiting the sleep state at the firsttime, the first running average of light meter values being seeded by aninitial running average value; entering the sleep state at a secondtime, which is after the first time, the sleep state being entered inresponse to determining that a golf club, which is coupled to the golfclub tag, has been returned to a golf club bag; exiting, at a third timewhich is after the second time, the sleep state; calculating and storinga second bright average, which is a running average, after exiting thesleep state at the third time, the second bright average being re-seededby the bright initial value; calculating and storing a second darkaverage, which is also a running average, after exiting the sleep stateat the third time, the second dark average being re-seeded by the darkinitial value; calculating and storing a second running average of lightmeter values after exiting the sleep state at the third time, the secondrunning average of light meter values being re-seeded by the initialrunning average value; and determining a change of status of the golfclub relative to the golf club bag based upon a current light metervalue and transmitting, in response to determining the change of status,an identifier of the golf club and an indicator of the status which isone of (a) in-bag or (b) out-of-bag. The transmitting can be performedat least two times over a period of time before the golf club tag entersa light sleep state, and a timer can be configured to wake up the golfclub tag from the light sleep state to determine if the status, of thegolf club relative to the golf club bag, has changed and wherein thesecond bright average, the second dark average and the second runningaverage of light meter values are not re-seeded after exiting the lightsleep state. This method can also include receiving a current lightmeter value (e.g., from the second light sensor) and determining, bycomparing the current light meter value to a floating threshold, whetherto add the current light meter value to the second bright average (ifthe current light meter value is above the floating threshold) or to thesecond dark average (if the current light meter value is below thefloating threshold) and adding the current light meter value to thesecond running average of light meter values and determining adifference between the current light meter value and the previous lightmeter value, and comparing the difference to a change value (e.g. afixed value) to determine whether to change the status. This method canbe used with a golf club tag which includes a window at the top surfaceof the tag in the proximity of the one or more light sensors; thiswindow is the entry point for a light pipe which directs light to one ormore light sensors in the golf club tag.

Dark Floating Threshold and Fixed Threshold

The flow charts shown in FIGS. 7E and 7K are other embodiments optimizedfor the configuration of tag shown in FIG. 4B; this tag has an openingin the top so that light enters through the top only and not through thesides of the tag.

The algorithm is adjusted so that the Dark Average is limited to a valueof, for example 10, and the threshold is a fixed value, such as 10,greater than the Dark Average, as shown in FIG. 7E. In this embodiment,the threshold does vary as does the Dark Average, but the Threshold isconstrained to be no more than 10 greater than the Dark Average, asshown in block 9.1.3 in FIG. 7E, and the Dark Average is constrained tobe a maximum value of 10, as shown in blocks 9.2.8 and 8.4.2 e in FIG.7E. Alternatively, the threshold is a fixed value, such as 15, as shownin block 9.2.9 in FIG. 7K. In these embodiments, the Bright Average isnot implemented, and it is not used in the calculation of the Threshold.In some embodiments, there may be a single light sensor.

Club Tag Transmissions

The tag circuit includes a timer in one embodiment (for example, arelaxation oscillator or timing circuit) that pulses every 2 seconds,for example. The timer can be external to the microprocessor and iscontrolled by the microprocessor. Alternatively, the timer can beinternal to the microprocessor.

The microprocessor sets a clock to track the duration of repetitivetransmissions. The clock counts the number of transmissions for thein-bag status and prompts the processor to cease transmissions after,for example, one minute of in-bag transmissions. The clock counts thenumber of transmissions for the out-of-bag status and prompts theprocessor to cease transmissions after, for example, four minutes ofout-of-bag transmissions.

In-Bag: When the tag enters the bag, it transmits multiple timesseparated by intervals determined by the timer for a predeterminedamount of time set by the clock. The multiple transmissions give aconfirmation that the club is actually in the bag. After the lasttransmission, the microcontroller enters a deep sleep mode, unless thelight switch still detects light. If the light switch still indicateslight inside the bag, then the microcontroller goes into a light sleepmode, waking up at predetermined intervals, such as 2 seconds, tomonitor light conditions and to keep updating the Dark Average andAverage light meter readings.

Out-of-Bag: When the tag exits the bag, it transmits multiple timesseparated by intervals determined by the timer for a predeterminedamount of time set by the clock. The intervals may be random delays. Themultiple transmissions give continued confirmation that the club is outof the bag and guarantee that the message is received if the golfer isout of range and then walks into range. The first transmission caninclude a random delay between the light changing and the beginning oftransmission for collision avoidance with other clubs with tags that areremoved from the bag at the same time. After the last transmission, themicrocontroller goes into a light sleep mode, waking up at predeterminedintervals, such as 2 seconds, to monitor light conditions and to keepupdating the Bright Average and Average light meter readings.

The advantage to having a variable threshold is that the system learnswhat is light and dark in the current environment, which may includevarying light levels due to time of day, weather, color or translucencyof golf bag. The Bright and Dark Averages are determined by exponentialaveragers, weighing the most recent readings more heavily than olderreadings. The variable threshold and the limits on the amount of change(Difference) prevent false in-bag status for significant changes, suchas sunlight to shade. The variable threshold and averagers determinestatus based on outside light levels and operate for various lightconditions, such as bright mid-day light and low-light twilightconditions, and for different mechanical configurations of the tag.

One of the functions of the timer is to prompt the processor to dorepeated transmissions of the same status information. Another functionof the timer is to continually take light meter readings when the lightswitch is turned on. This guarantees accurate readings when theenvironment is too light for the light switch to turn off when the tagis actually in the golf bag. Repeated readings that contribute toaverager values allow the tag to learn its environment and to makeadjustments according to its environment. For example, the inside of anopaque golf bag is darker than the inside of a translucent golf bag. TheDark Average would represent the dark in-bag state of the particulargolf bag that is being used.

Club Tag Aesthetics and Housing Design

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a typical configuration of a club tag housing. Atop portion 801 encases the electronics. A post 802 allows for the clubtag to be attached to a golf club through a hole in the golf club grip.A securing feature 803 is included at the end of the post 802 to helpprevent the club tag from being easily dislodged from the golf clubgrip.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the top portion of a typical golf club shaft andgrip. The grip material 902 is commonly rubber but can be many differentmaterials. The hole 903 at the end of the grip provides ventilation forinstallation of the grip onto a golf club shaft 904.

It is desirable to provide a system that integrates the golf club taginto the grip portion of the golf club in a way that the tag fits thegrip in an optimum way. In one embodiment, inserts designed specificallyto receive club tags are included in the golf club grips at the time ofmanufacture, as shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 15F and 15G. In otherembodiments, golf club grips are manufactured with openings or voidsdesigned to receive club tags, as shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C, 17A,17B, 17C, and 18A-18D. In other embodiments club tags are embedded inthe grip at the time of manufacture.

As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, golf club grips come in manyconfigurations. Some grips have flat tops 1001 and some have dome shapedtops 1002. In one preferred embodiment, the club tag has a flatunderside that connects to the golf grip. For a golf grip with a flattop, the club tag would rest flat against the top of the grip 1001. Fora golf club grip with a domed top, the club tag would rest against thetop of the dome and there would be space between the outer edges of theclub tag and the grip 1002. A club tag gasket 1003 can be insertedbetween the club tag and the grip to fill in the space. One embodimentof a club gasket is shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C. FIG. 11A shows atop view and FIG. 11C shows a section view of a club tag gasket 1101. Asshown is FIG. 11B, the gasket 1103 can be attached to the underside theclub tag 1102 to fill the space created by a domed grip. This gasket1103 would eliminate movement or vibration caused by the space and wouldalso be more aesthetically pleasing. It could be attached using adhesivesuch as double sided pressure-sensitive adhesive or it could be held inplace by the pressure between the club tag and golf club grip. Oneembodiment of the gasket is shown in FIG. 11C as a cross section takenat FIG. 11A, Section AA. The gasket is thicker at the outside edge tofill in the gap. Alternatively, the gasket could be made of compressiblematerial of the same thickness, such that the gasket is compressed atthe inner diameter and not compressed at the outer edge.

Golf club grips can be manufactured with features designed specificallyto receive club tags. A golf club grip 1701 can be manufactured toaccept the club tag as shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C, 17A, 17B, and 17C.The grip could include an indentation 1601 in the top of the gripdesigned to hold the club tag 1602. In this example the club tag couldbe attached such that the top portion of the club tag could still allowlight to enter the tag from the sides (if a side light pipe is used).Optionally, the grip could include a “plug” to fill the area intended toreceive a club tag until such time the golfer removes the plug andattached the club tag. The plug could be designed to look substantiallylike a standard golf club grip. The plug could include logos, etc.Alternatively the grip could include a similar indentation 1702 to holda club tag or club tag electronics 1703 configured with no plastichousing or partial plastic housing. A separate cover 1704 can be used toseal the club tag 1703 into place. In these embodiments translucent gripmaterial can be used selectively to allow light to reach the lightsensors on the club tag electronics. Another embodiment of amanufactured golf club grip is shown in FIG. 18A. The grip 1804 ismanufactured with an internal slot 1803 accessed by an external cutout1801. The club tag 1802 is provided as a self-contained disk 1805 and1806 as shown in FIG. 18C. The disk 1802 slides into the grip as shownin FIG. 18B and is seated in the grip 1807 as shown in FIG. 18D. In thisconfiguration clear grip material could also be used to allow light toreach the club tag electronics.

Golf club grips can be manufactured with inserts designed specificallyto receive club tags as shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 14, and 15Fand 15G. FIGS. 12A and 12B show an example of a golf club grip insertdesigned to receive a club tag. The insert can be designed to fit theshape of the club tag. For example, the grip, as shown in FIG. 12B, hasa flat top part 1201 designed to receive a club tag with a flat bottompart. The shapes can vary—the idea is to have a custom fitting systemwhere the club tag fits well with the golf club grip insert. The insertcould have a feature 1202 with a hole 1203 designed to serve as both avent to allow proper installation of golf club grips onto golf clubshafts and as a means to attach the club tag to the grip insert. Clubtags could be designed with features for mating to the golf club gripinsert, as shown in FIGS. 15A through 15E. For example, the club tagpost could have threads or other features designed to attach the clubtag snugly to the grip insert. The club tag insert could have “legs”1204 designed to be molded into the grip during the grip manufacturingprocess. The legs 1204 could have holes or teeth such that the griprubber surrounds and attaches itself to the golf club grip insertsecurely.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show the top portion of a golf club shaft 1301 andgrip material 1302 with the top of the grip material only extending ashigh as the top of the golf club shaft (not how grips are made now). Inone embodiment, the golf grip insert would become the top of the gripafter being attached to the grip in the grip manufacturing process asshown in FIG. 15G. FIG. 14 highlights the profile 1401 of a standarddome-shaped grip with a club tag attached. The profile is tall comparedto profile 1501 shown in FIG. 15G. Profile 1501 shows how a golf clubgrip insert with a club tag attached could have a lower profile, moreaesthetically pleasing appearance.

Club Tag Antenna Configuration Options

There are several configurations for the antenna on the tag. One optionis to print the antenna as a metal trace on the printed circuit board1902 as shown in FIG. 19A. A battery 1901 can be disposed under theboard 1902, and the battery 1901 can be coupled, through circuit traceson board 1902, to one or more ICs (integrated circuits) that form thecircuitry of the tag (see, for example, the circuit of FIG. 6A). Theideal length for this trace, based on one-quarter the wavelength of thetransmit frequency, may be considerably longer than the space available.The antenna trace is considered an inductor and a parallel capacitor isselected to resonate with the antenna inductance at the selectedtransmit frequency, such as 433 MHz. Other transmit frequencies such as2.4 GHz would use an antenna closer in length to one-quarter thewavelength and would be tuned with discrete components. The antennatrace could be in the form of an arc 1903, as shown in FIG. 19A. Itcould also be in other forms, such as a rectangle or coil, to best fitin the configuration of the printed circuit board. Another option is toprint the antenna as a metal trace on both sides of the printed circuitboard with the two traces exactly opposite each other. The traces 1909are then connected by vias 1907 through the printed circuit board asshown in FIG. 19D. An opening 1908 (shown in FIG. 19D) can provide lightto a sensor (e.g. light sensor 1905) located under the board 1902.

Another configuration for the antenna is to add a metal piece 1904 inthe shape of the trace on top of the antenna trace on the printedcircuit board as shown in FIG. 19B. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19C,this metal piece 1906 may be spaced above the printed circuit board withor without an antenna trace on the printed circuit board. Spacing theantenna above the printed circuit board without a printed antenna traceoffers more room for components to be installed under the antenna,possibly reducing the size of the printed circuit board and the overallsize of the tag.

Other antenna techniques include applying metallization to the cover ofthe tag to enhance antenna performance. The metallization could beapplied to the entire surface of the tag or selectively applied. Themetallic surface is connected to the printed circuit board 2002 with awire extending through the feature, such as a countersink or hole 2003as shown in FIG. 20, that focuses light that enters the tag. This wireattaches to the metallization and to the transmitter output on theprinted circuit board. The metallization can be applied to the topsurface of the clear light pipe part 2001 and serves as a reflector forthe light that enters the tag. The metallization can be on the topsurface of the light focusing feature as well. A light pipe withmetalized surfaces could also provide improved durability of the tag.

Some of the options for selective metallization on the cover of the taginclude creating various shapes of the metalized antenna in the cover.These shapes could include an arc, a circle, or a coil, for example.

Another antenna technique to enhance antenna performance is to applymetallization to the cover of the tag such that the metallization is notconnected to the printed circuit board. The metallization can be thesame shape as the printed trace on the printed circuit board, but it ispositioned above the trace on the board. In this way the metallizationacts to enhance the signal without a physical electrical connection.FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 21C show some embodiments of this technique. FIG.21A shows a cross-section side and exploded view of the club tag withits various components. The main printed circuit board 2101 mounts inthe housing 2102. The metalized antenna board 2103 mounts above andspaced away from the main printed circuit board. The light pipe 2104 islocated between the main printed circuit board 2101 and the metallizedantenna printed circuit board 2103. The light pipe creates consistentfixed spacing between the two printed circuit boards. The two antennas,the antenna on the main printed circuit board 2101 and the antenna onthe metallized antenna printed circuit board 2103, are inductivelycoupled. The light pipe 2104 creates the fixed physical spacing betweenthe two antennas.

In one embodiment in FIG. 21B, the metallization can be a full circlewith a gap. This gap can act as a capacitor that tunes the circuit tothe same frequency as the tag. The capacitance can depend on the spacingof the gap. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21C, the gap can beconstructed such that there are two metallic stubs next to each otheracting as the parallel plates of a capacitor. FIG. 21D shows the gap indetail. Alternatively, a small chip capacitor can be soldered to themetallization across the gap.

System Automation Options Club Icon on Golf Device, Golfer PressesButton to Mark-the-Spot

There are several embodiments of the data collection system. In oneembodiment, the golfer removes a club from the golf bag for the golfstroke, the tag transmits that it is out of the bag (the transmissioncan include an identifier of the particular club), and the golf clubnumber or description appears on the display of the golf GPS device. Thegolfer pushes a button on the golf GPS device to mark the spot andrecord which club is in use for the stroke. If a golfer removes severalclubs from the bag before deciding which club to use, all of these clubswould appear on the display of the GPS device. When the golfer pushes abutton to mark the spot, the golf GPS device prompts the golfer toselect which club will be used out of the several that are reported outof the bag by their corresponding tags. One technique to select whichclub is in use is that the golf GPS device would highlight the “middle”club as a default. That is, if the golfer removes the 5, 6, and 7 ironsfrom the bag, the golf GPS device would highlight the 6 iron as thedefault and the golfer can select that one or scroll up or down toselect one of the other clubs.

Multiple Clubs Out, Golf Device Selects Closest Club (Signal Strength)

It is desirable to limit the amount of information the golfer has toenter into the golf GPS device. In the described embodiment, the golferhas to push a button to mark the spot at each stroke. If more than oneclub is out of the bag, the golfer has to select which club is in use.One technique for automatically selecting the club in use is to usereceiver signal strength in the receiver in the golf GPS device. Thegolf GPS device is often worn on the golfer. When the golfer has a clubin hand, that particular club is closest to the GPS device and willprovide the strongest signal. By selecting the club with the strongestsignal or a signal above a predetermined threshold, the GPS device candisplay that this is the club in use.

Sequence of Events at Same Geo-Location, Signal Strength

Additional techniques can be used to automate the system further. Thegolf GPS device could use intelligence, such as length of time atparticular GPS location, to determine when to mark the spotautomatically. A sequence of events could be required, such as: 1)removing the club(s) from the bag, 2) being in one spot for longer thana period of time, for example 2 minutes. If there are several clubs outand one is in use, the club in use will have the strongest receivedsignal, or a signal strength above a predetermined threshold. If thesequence and conditions described above are met, the system wouldautomatically record the current position and club in use. Similarly ifonly one club is out of the bag, and the golfer is in the spot forlonger than a predetermined amount of time, the system would recordposition and club in response to expiration of the predetermined amountof time.

Using Motion to Determine if a Club is in Use

Another embodiment is described that uses techniques to determine if aclub is in use by determining if the club is in motion. In somescenarios, a golfer removes several clubs from the golf bag, so that heor she can decide on which club to use at a later time. The golfer mayhave several clubs out for consecutive shots, for example, a pitchingwedge is used for one stroke followed by a putter used for thesubsequent stroke(s). The system would register that there are one ormore clubs out of the bag. Determining which club is the actual club inuse is valuable information and may be used to automate the golf datacollection system. If several clubs are out, the system can use thedetected motion of the club, combined with other information ifnecessary, to automatically select which club is in use for the shot.The following are techniques that determine if a club is in motion ornot in motion.

Light Meter Variations to Determine Club in Motion, Pattern of Motion,Geo-Location

One technique uses variations in light meter readings to determine whena golf club is in motion. In a typical embodiment, light meter readingsare recorded every two seconds as previously described to determine if aclub is in or out of a bag. While the club is still, a series of lightmeter readings, particularly over a short period of time, such as lessthan 10 or 20 seconds, do not change significantly; that is, the same orsimilar light meter readings are recorded repeatedly. Scenarios in whichthe club is still might include: the golfer or a caddie standing stillwith club in hand, or the club is on the ground. When the club is inmotion, the light meter readings vary. Scenarios in which a club ismoving might include: the golfer or a caddie walking with the club,moving the club while waiting to start a stroke, practice swings, andreal swings. When the golfer is taking a swing, the light metervariations will be significant and follow a typical pattern. Typicallyduring a swing, the club tag is in light; then it is shadowed as theclub is just next to the golfer while setting up the swing; then it isexposed to increased light levels as the club is swung and is out of theshadow of the golfer. In one embodiment, this particular pattern ofvariations in light meter readings can be used to define a stroke. For astroke, the golfer typically takes practice swings in advance of theactual stroke. In one embodiment, the golf device recognizes that thereare a series of swings in the same geo-location, and selects the last ofthese swings as the actual stroke and records that club as the club inuse.

Multiple Clubs Out, One Club in Motion

In an alternate embodiment, the golf device recognizes one or more clubsout of the bag. It also recognizes that one or more clubs are not inmotion and that one club is in motion. The club in motion is selected asthe club in use.

The method shown in FIG. 7I provides an example of how a mobile golfdevice, such as a golf GPS rangefinder, can use motion statusinformation from a plurality of golf club tags to determine which ofseveral golf clubs that have been pulled out of the bag is in use basedupon the motion status information from a plurality of golf club tags.This can occur when a golfer removes several clubs at the same time froma golf bag; for example, a golfer can decide to pull out two or threegolf clubs at once, laying down one or two of them while using thethird. A golfer can decide to set the one club down and pick up anotherclub off the ground. The method according to the flow chart shown inFIG. 7I allows a mobile golf device to receive the several out-of-bagstatus signals from the different golf clubs that have been removed fromthe golf bag and still determine which golf club out of that group ofgolf clubs is actually in use. The method can begin in operation 810 inwhich an RF receiver in a mobile golf device, such as a golf GPSrangefinder, receives the plurality of out-of-bag status indicators,with corresponding club identifiers, from a corresponding plurality ofactive golf club tags, such as the tags shown in FIG. 5. Then inoperation 812, the RF receiver receives, for each of the golf clubshaving an out-of-bag status, at least one of the club's motion status ormeasurements from which the motion status can be determined. Thesemotion statuses and measurements have been described herein. Then inoperation 813, the mobile golf device processes the motion statuses orthe measurements from which the motion statuses can be determined, todetermine which club is in use. When the system determines that a golfball has been hit, then the mobile golf device can record a stroke inoperation 815. The recording of the stroke can happen semi-automaticallywhen a golfer presses a button on, for example, a golf club to recordthe stroke, or automatically in response to an active ball tag in a ballindicating a hit by a golf club has occurred to the golf ball to causethe stroke to be recorded. When the mobile device records the stroke itindicates the club used based upon the club which was determined to beused after processing the motion statuses in operation 813.Alternatively, the recording of the stroke may occur based on the motionof the last club used in conjunction with a geo-location. For example,the golfer may be at a particular geo-location for at least apredetermined amount of time, and several clubs are out of the bag. Thegolfer may take practice swings with one or more clubs, then decide onwhich club to use. The last club in motion at that particulargeo-location (while at least one other club is not in motion) isselected as the club in use, and the golf device records the stroke.

Motion Status Determined by Light Meter Variations

A specific embodiment will now be described, in conjunction with FIG.7G, as an example of a method of the present invention. Referring to theFlow Diagram in FIG. 7G, the processing of in-bag and out-of-bag statusis implemented as previously described in other embodiments based on theone or more light sensors. Using the same data from these light sensors,an additional status, Motion Status, is implemented, which indicates ifa club is in motion or not in motion (still). The Motion Status isdetermined by a series of light meter readings (such as, repeatedlytaken light measurements every 2 or 3 seconds or some other short periodof time) and the value of Difference, which is the difference betweenthe current light meter reading and the previous light meter reading, asshown in blocks 9.6.4 d and 9.6.1 d. In this way, variations in lightmeter readings will be represented by the Difference value. Typicallywhen the golf club is in motion during a golf swing, there is a largevariation in light meter readings. The series of Difference values isevaluated to determine continued motion, that is continued variation inlight meter readings; or to determine continued non-motion or stillness,that is continued non-variation in light meter readings. In thisembodiment, two subsequent decisions that a club is in motion or not inmotion are required. This eliminates errored motion decisions based on amomentary fluctuation in light level. When it is determined that achange in motion has occurred, from in-motion to not in-motion (still)or from not in-motion (still) to in-motion, the processor prompts thetransmitter to transmit the new motion status. This transmission mayinclude one or more of the unique identifier of the tag, the motionstatus, the in-bag or out-of golf bag status, the current light meterreading, the difference value and other data characterizing the motionof the club.

A typical embodiment of an algorithm that uses variations in light meterreadings to determine motion of a club is illustrated in the flowchartin FIG. 7G. An embodiment of an algorithm previously described todetermine the in- or out-of bag status is performed. In addition, theDifference value is used to determine motion status of the club. Whenthe club is out of the bag, following the flow chart in FIG. 7G throughblocks 9.6.4 d, 9.6.5 e and optionally 9.6.6 a, the processor performssteps to determine Motion status. The Difference value represents avariation in light meter readings. When the Difference value is greaterthan 2, in this embodiment, it is determined that the club may be inmotion. Following the flowchart through blocks 9.7.1, 9.7.2 andoptionally 9.7.3, a value for New Activity is assigned as follows. TheDifference value represents the variation in 2 light meter readings, orthe difference between the current light meter reading and the previouslight meter reading, as shown in block 9.6.4 d. If the Difference valueis greater than 2, the New Activity value is assigned +1; if thedifference value is less than or equal to 2, the New Activity value isassigned −1. A New Activity value of +1 indicates that the club is inmotion; a value of −1 indicates that a club is not in motion, as shownin blocks 9.7.1 and 9.7.3 in FIG. 7G. A test is performed in block 9.7.6in FIG. 7G to determine if the Activity has occurred for a number ofcycles, for example 2 in this embodiment, of checking light meterreadings. The activity may represent motion or non-motion (still). If itis determined that motion has occurred for 2 cycles, the Motion Statusis set to 1, or in motion. Similarly, if it is determined that no motionhas occurred for 2 cycles, the Motion Status is set to 0, or not inmotion. When the Motion Status is set to a value and that value isdifferent than the previous Motion Status value, as shown in block 9.7.8in FIG. 7G, a transmission of the new status occurs. In this way, achange in motion status, from motion to non-motion OR from non-motion tomotion, prompts the processor to cause the transmitter to transmit thenew Motion Status. When the club status is in-bag, the Motion Status isnot monitored in one embodiment; that is, the Motion Status is onlychecked when the club is out of the bag in one embodiment. A club thatis in the bag would not be a club used for a stroke, so monitoring themotion status is only relevant for a club that is out of the bag.

A specific embodiment will now be described, in conjunction with FIG.7L, as an example of a method of the present invention. Referring to theFlow Diagram in FIG. 7L, the processing of in-bag and out-of-bag statusis implemented as previously described in other embodiments based on theone or more light sensors. Using the same data from these light sensors,an additional status, Motion Status, is implemented, which indicates ifa club is in motion or not in motion (still). The Motion Status isdetermined by a series of light meter readings (such as, repeatedlytaken light measurements every 2 or 3 seconds or some other short periodof time) and the value of Difference, which is the difference betweenthe current light meter reading and the previous light meter reading, asshown in blocks 9.6.4 d and 9.6.1 d. In this way, variations in lightmeter readings will be represented by the Difference value. Typicallywhen the golf club is in motion during a golf swing, there is a largevariation in light meter readings. The series of Difference values isevaluated to determine continued motion, that is continued variation inlight meter readings; or to determine continued non-motion or stillness,that is continued non-variation in light meter readings. In thisembodiment, three subsequent determinations that a club is in motion ornot in motion are required to make a decision that a club is in motionor not in motion. This eliminates errored motion decisions based on amomentary fluctuation in light level. When it is decided that a changein motion has occurred based on the three subsequent determinations,from in-motion to not in-motion (still) or from not in-motion (still) toin-motion, the processor prompts the transmitter to transmit the newmotion status. This transmission may include one or more of the uniqueidentifier of the tag, the motion status, the in-bag or out-of golf bagstatus, the current light meter reading, a calculation of the average ofdifference values and other data characterizing the motion of the club.

A typical embodiment of an algorithm that uses variations in light meterreadings to determine motion of a club is illustrated in the flowchartin FIG. 7L. An embodiment of an algorithm previously described todetermine the in- or out-of bag status is performed. In addition, theDifference value is used to determine motion status of the club. Whenthe club is out of the bag, following the flow chart in FIG. 7L throughblocks 9.6.4 d, 9.6.5 e and optionally 9.6.6 a, the processor performssteps to determine Motion status. The Difference value represents avariation in light meter readings. When the absolute value of theDifference is greater than specified value, for example, 2 in thisembodiment, it is determined that the club may be in motion. Followingthe flowchart through blocks 9.7.2, a value for activity C is assignedas follows. The absolute value of Difference represents the variation in2 light meter readings, or the difference between the current lightmeter reading and the previous light meter reading, as shown in block9.6.4 d. If the absolute value of Difference is greater than 2 in thisembodiment, the activity value C is increased by 1; if the differencevalue is less than or equal to 2, the activity value C is decreasedby 1. Increasing the value of C by 1, as shown in block 9.8.1 in FIG.7L, indicates that the club is in motion for this cycle of light meterreading; decreasing the value of C by 1, as shown in block 9.8.2,indicates that a club is not in motion for this cycle of light meterreading. The value of C is limited to be no greater than 3 and no lessthan 0, as shown in block 9.8.3. A test is performed in block 9.7.6 b inFIG. 7L to determine if the activity has occurred for a number ofcycles, for example 3 in this embodiment, of checking light meterreadings. The activity may represent a single cycle of motion ornon-motion (still). If it is determined that motion has occurred for 3cycles, the Motion Status is set to 1, or in motion. Similarly, if it isdetermined that no motion has occurred for 3 cycles, the Motion Statusis set to 0, or not in motion. When the Motion Status is set to a valueand that value is different than the previous Motion Status value, asshown in block 9.7.8 b in FIG. 7L, a transmission of the new statusoccurs. In this way, a change in motion status, from motion tonon-motion OR from non-motion to motion, prompts the processor to causethe transmitter to transmit the new Motion Status. When the MotionStatus of a club is 1 or in motion, the processor causes the transmitterto transmit its Motion Status and an updated average of Differencevalues every 4 seconds in this embodiment as shown in blocks 9.8.7 and9.8.8. When the club status is in-bag, the Motion Status is notmonitored in one embodiment; that is, the Motion Status is only checkedwhen the club is out of the bag. A club that is in the bag would not bea club used for a stroke, so monitoring the motion status is onlyrelevant for a club that is out of the bag.

Degrees of Motion Determined by Light Meter Variation

A further embodiment of a technique using light meter variation todetermine if a club is in motion is described. If two or more clubs areout of the bag, it may be possible for more than one club to indicate itis in motion, for example while a club is on the ground in the shadow ofa golfer who is taking a stroke or a club may be held by a caddie. Thelight meter variations will be different for the different scenarios.For example the club held by the golfer while taking a swing will besubject to wider variations in light meter readings, such as in fullshadow when the club is adjacent to the body and full light as the clubis swung away from the body. The club on the ground would be subject toless range in variations, being on the ground and not in full light. Itis desirable to differentiate between these two ranges of light metervariations. This can be done by observing the differences between lightmeter readings, which is represented in the value Difference.Additionally, the degree of Difference can be represented by a series ofvalues to differentiate between wide variations in light (e.g. highdifference values) and lower variations in light (e.g. low differencevalues). One or more of these values of difference and degree can beincluded in the data that is transmitted by the tag and received in thegolf device, and this data is processed in the golf device to determinewhich club is subject to a higher range of motion than the other clubsthat are out of the bag.

The embodiment as shown in FIG. 7G, demonstrates a technique in whichthe value for Difference may be evaluated to determine the amount ofchange in light meter values, and this value may be included in thetransmitted data for processing in the golf GPS device. A value Degreecan be assigned that would represent the range of values for Differencethat would represent the degree of change in the light meter readings,as shown in block 814 in FIG. 7G. For example, a range of Differencevalues could be assigned as follows: for a Difference of 9 or less, theDegree value would be 0; for a Difference of 10 through 21, a Degreevalue would be 1; for a Difference of 22 through 32, a Degree valuewould be 2; and for a Difference of greater than 32, a Degree valuewould be 3. So the ranges of motion are represented by various values ofDegree, with the higher variation in light meter reading assigned ahigher value of Degree. The Degree value is transmitted in oneembodiment along with other statuses, such as one or more of motion andin- or out-of bag status, to the golf device. In this way, the golfdevice assesses the amount of motion transmitted by several clubs anddetermines that the club with the highest degree of motion is the clubin use. Alternatively, the Difference value or another set ofmeasurements is transmitted to the golf device, and the device doessimilar processing of this value. In scenarios in which more than onegolf club indicates it is in motion, the golf device would select theclub showing a highest degree of motion as the club in use. In oneembodiment, the degree value can be a standard deviation or othermeasure of the amount of variation of the light meter readings overtime.

An alternate embodiment of motion sensing is illustrated in FIG. 7F.This embodiment employs light sensing techniques to determine if a clubis in the bag or out of the bag as previously described. FIG. 7Fillustrates a technique that uses light meter variations to determine ifa club is in motion that does not include assigning a Degree value forthe range of Difference values of light meter readings. In thisembodiment, the transmitter may transmit the value for Difference, andthe golf device would process this information to determine which clubis in motion when more than one club is out of the bag.

An alternate embodiment of motion sensing is illustrated in FIG. 7L.This embodiment employs light sensing techniques to determine if a clubis in the bag or out of the bag as previously described. FIG. 7Lillustrates a technique that uses light meter variations to determine ifa club is in motion that includes calculating an average value ofDifference readings while the club is in motion. As shown in block9.8.6, the value “Sum” is calculated by summing all of the absolutevalues of Difference while the club is in motion. An average forDifference values may be calculated by taking the “Sum”, then dividingthe “Sum” by the number of readings N, which is the number of readingswhile the club was in motion. In this embodiment, an average forDifference values, “Diff Aver”, may be discard the maximum Differencevalue while the club is in motion, so that the “Diff Aver” is the “Sum”minus the Maximum Difference value over all readings, then divide by thenumber of readings N minus 1. The transmitter may transmit this valuefor average of Difference, and the golf device would process thisinformation to determine which club is in motion when more than one clubis out of the bag. The processor may also prompt the transmitter totransmit this updated value of average of Difference every 4 seconds,for example, as long as the club continues to be in motion. Theseupdated Difference average values provide information about which clubis in motion at a particular time and the extent of the motion.Transmitted information from the club tag can be processed in the golfdevice to determine whether a golf club is: being swung, laying on theground, being held in the hand, etc. For example, for a golf club thatwas swinging, the club tag will typically transmit higher averageDifference values than the values transmitted from a club that was lyingon the ground.

Referring to FIGS. 45A, 45B and 45C, the graphs illustrate the typicalresponse of the algorithm described above and shown in FIG. 7L when aseries of typical golf movements is performed as outlined in FIG. 46.The typical golf movements include laying the club on the ground, bothin the open and with moving shadows, walking or standing with the clubin hand, covering and uncovering the grip end as might happen when thegolfer leans on a club, and setting up and swinging the club. Whilethese tests are performed, the recorded readings, calculations andstatuses are observed and plotted in FIGS. 45A, 45B, and 45C. FIG. 45Ashows light meter readings recorded over time as the tests areperformed. As previously described, these light meter readings arerecorded every 2 seconds while the club is out of the bag or while theclub is in the bag in light sleep. In FIG. 45B, the top line representsthe calculated absolute value of the Difference, which is the differencebetween light meter readings. The bottom line represents the motionstatus as reported by the algorithm. The top line in FIG. 45C representsthe values for the previously described calculated Average Differencethat are reported to the golf device. It can be seen that the AverageDifference value for the test in which the club is being swung is ahigher value than the other test scenarios, such as walking andshadowing the club on the ground.

Filtering Club Tag Transmissions

In one embodiment, the receiving device can filter out club tagtransmissions received by the receiving device, based on certaincriteria. That is, the receiving device may interpret the received databased on its environment and utilize or not utilize the received datadepending on the scenario, thereby filtering the received data. Forexample, the receiving device can be programmed to “ignore” certaintypes of received club tag transmissions (such as club status signals)while the receiving device is in “motion”. Motion can be defined as“moving more than X miles per hour, etc.” and can be calculated usingthe GPS, accelerometers, pedometer or other sensing devices on board orfunctionally coupled to the receiving device. In one embodiment, thefiltering prevents the processing system from changing a saved clubstatus such as in-bag or out-of-bag or in-motion or not-in-motion. Inone embodiment, at least a set of received club status signals, such asin-motion signals, are filtered if they are received while the receivingdevice is determined to be in-motion (based on a predeterminedthreshold), and this filtering prevents the processing system, in thereceiving device, from changing a previously saved club status (such asclub number 5 is NOT in motion) even though the just received signalindicates that the club is in-motion. With this type of filtering, it ispossible to add logic to the system. This enables the receiving deviceto ignore certain types of transmissions that may otherwise provideirrelevant data to the receiver, such as: 1) club tags that temporarilysee light and transmit “out-of-bag” due to being jostled in the bagwhile in motion; and 2) club tags that calculate large differences inlight variation over long periods of time and transmit club in-motionstatus signals—e.g. when being carried by the golfer when the golfer iswalking. By concentrating in one embodiment on only the times when thereceiving device is “still” the system can do a better job ofdetermining when an actual golf swing occurred as golfers almost alwaysmake a golf shot while standing in one location for more than just a fewseconds. In one embodiment, a pedometer or accelerometer in thereceiving device can be configured to determine when a golfer iswalking. A GPS device can determine when the golf cart is moving bydetermining that the speed of the device is greater than the speed of awalking golfer. This data would determine the difference between thegolfer walking, the golfer in a moving cart, and the golfer standingstill. The filtering in this embodiment would help determine when thegolfer is standing still. It should be understood that the concept ofthe receiving device “ignoring” or filtering transmissions while thereceiving device is “in motion” can be applied to receiving signals fromall types of tags. For example, tags that transmit based on input fromlight sensors, or impact sensors, or tilt sensors, or accelerometers, oracoustic sensors, or any combination of sensors, etc. It will also beunderstood that the receiving device can be an RFID reader or an RFIDreader combined with a GPS rangefinder or other devices that receivetransmissions from club tags and provide club reminders or golf datacollection functions.

When the receiving device determines that it is “still” for more than apredetermined time, it can start processing club status signals againfor certain types of transmissions from tags. Also, when the receivingdevice starts moving again (more than a predetermined amount ofmovement) the receiving device can be programmed to interpret the datait received while it was “still” and make decisions based on this data.For example, the receiving device can be programmed to “decide” whichclub was used in the golf swing after the receiving device moves morethan X feet away from the location of the shot. See FIGS. 47 and 48 formore detail. Similarly the receiving device can be configured torecognize that the golfer is walking away from the location of the golfswing based on movement detected by an accelerometer or pedometer; inthis case the receiver can be programmed to “decide” which club was usedin the golf swing after the receiving device determines that a golfer iswalking away from the location of the shot.

Automated Golf Game Tracking with Motion Sensing

The features described in the club tag provide information to the golfdevice such that a golf game can be tracked automatically or nearlyautomatically, with very little interaction by the golfer. By processingthe information from the club tag, such as in or out of the bag, inmotion or not in motion, and the degree of motion, the golf device canautomatically determine when the stroke was taken and which club wasused for the stroke. FIGS. 47 and 48 describe implementation ofautomatic or nearly automatic golf game data collection. When one clubis removed from the bag, it indicates ‘out of the bag’, in motion or notin motion, and the degree of motion. For a semi-automatic system,described in FIG. 47, after moving away from the location at which thegolfer pressed a Mark-the-spot button on the device, the golf devicewould select the last club in motion at that location. If multiple clubsare out of the bag, the golf device would select that last clubreporting Motion while the other clubs are reporting No-motion, If themultiple clubs are all reporting Motion at that location, the golfdevice would compare the Average Difference values transmitted by eachclub and select the club with the highest average Difference value asthe club being used for the shot.

For a fully automatic system, described in FIG. 48, the golf devicewould monitor movement of the golf device and movement of the one ormore clubs. The golf device would be still or not in motion while theclub is in motion. If multiple clubs are out, the golf device wouldmonitor all clubs and select the one that was in motion while at leastone other club was still. If multiple clubs appear to be in motion, theclub with the highest reported Average Difference is selected as theclub in use. The motion of the golf device is monitored to determine thelocation of the shot. The golf device would be still for a period oftime while a club is being used to take a stroke. When the golf devicemoves away from that spot or the club is returned to the bag, theprocessor in the golf device determines that a shot has occurred anddetermines the location of the shot. The processor uses rules, such asthe last club in motion while the others are still, to select the clubin motion. The charts in FIGS. 47 and 48 outline the detailed scenariosfor determining the club in use for a golf shot.

Additional Filtering and Logic Techniques

With a system based on light sensing there may be certain situationswhere incorrect data gets transmitted and/or received and/or displayedon the receiving device. Using certain logic and filtering techniquescan resolve many if not all of these situations. Below are some examplesof potential challenges of a light based system along with potentialsolutions. It should be understood that the following examples can beapplied to similar systems that are not based on light. For example,systems based on vibration or impact or other types of sensors orsystems that use a combination of one or more light sensors and othersensors (e.g., impact sensors) could also use the following techniquesto improve performance.

-   -   PROBLEM 1: Golfer uses a bag that allows a lot of light in,        removes bag from dark place (e.g. trunk, indoors) and tag(s)        falsely report “out”.    -   SOLUTION 1: When a golfer first turns on the receiving device to        play golf, when the receiving device receives its first tag        reception, rather than display an “out of bag” club icon, the        receiving device can display a message similar to: “Ready to        start your round of golf? Make sure all clubs are in your bag        and the bag is in an open area outdoors”. This will allow the        receiving device to “ignore” any initial incorrect transmissions        it may receive.    -   PROBLEM 2: It is possible for several tags to falsely report        “out” at about the same time. For example, if a golfer is using        a highly translucent bag and lays the bag on the ground such        that the clubs separate from the bottom of the bag.    -   SOLUTION 2: The receiving device can present a message when        multiple clubs (e.g. 4 or more) are removed at about the same        time. For example, “Did you remove multiple clubs?” If the        answer is NO the receiving device ignores the false “OUT”        transmissions. If yes the receiving device registers the removed        clubs as “out” and continues.    -   PROBLEM 3: It is possible for clubs to be jostled such that        light shines into the bag and a tag(s) falsely transmits “OUT”.    -   SOLUTION 3: If tags transmit “OUT” while the receiving device is        moving at more than the pace of a slow walk (i.e. while driving        in a cart), the receiving device ignores transmissions.    -   SOLUTION 3A: It is possible to allow the user to select settings        in the receiving device to include delays before displaying the        received information. For example, if a golfer is using a golf        bag that allows light in, the golfer could select a delay        setting of 2 or 4 seconds. If, during the delay period, the        receiving device receives a transmission of “IN” it would have        never displayed the false “OUT”.

Sensors (Vibration, Tilt, Motion, etc.) Determine Club Motion

Another embodiment is described that incorporates a vibration, tilt, ormotion sensor in the club tag to determine which club is in motion. Thistechnique may be used in conjunction with the techniques using one ormore light meters previously described. In a particular embodiment, theclub tag is equipped with a vibration sensor. While the club is at rest,the vibration sensor has a particular output, such as a constant logic 1or 0. When the club is in motion, the vibration sensor has a differentoutput, such as voltage swings between logic 1 and 0. The processordetermines whether a club is at rest or is moving based on the output ofthe vibration sensor, which is connected to the processor. In a typicalembodiment the processor monitors the output of the vibration sensor fora period of time to determine the motion status of the club. In analternate embodiment, the processor wakes up on a change in the outputof the vibration sensor, which includes typical voltage swings when theclub is in motion. Typically during a swing, the club tag is in motion,which would be indicated by the output of the motion sensor. For a golfstroke, the golfer typically takes practice swings in advance of theactual stroke, all of which would indicate a club in motion. In oneembodiment, the golf device recognizes that there are a series of swingsin the same geo-location, and selects the last of these swings as theactual stroke and records that club as the club in use. The golf clubsthat are out of the bag and are not in use do not indicate that they arein motion, that is, the output of the vibration sensor on each clubindicates that these clubs are still. If there are several clubs out ofthe bag, the golf device recognizes the club in motion as the actualclub in use. The golf device recognizes all clubs out of the bag aspreviously described for missing club reminder, but for the golf datacollection function, the golf device only records the club in use forthe stroke.

Club Movement by Vibration, Tilt, Motion, Etc., Sensor

A specific embodiment will now be described that incorporates a motion,tilt, or vibration sensor, in conjunction with FIG. 711, as an exampleof a method of the present invention, and other alternative embodimentscan employ different operations and different parameters, in a differentsequence, etc. in a manner that is consistent with a general method ofthe invention. Referring to the Flow Diagram in FIG. 711, the processingof in-bag and out-of-bag status is implemented as previously describedin other embodiments. An additional status, Motion Status, isimplemented, which indicates if a club is in motion or not in motion(still), based on the output of, for example, a vibration, tilt ormotion sensor. When the light switch is on and the bag status changesfrom in-bag to out-of-bag the Motion Status is set to In Motion.Subsequent vibration sensor readings are analyzed to determine if theclub is In Motion or is Not In Motion (still). In one example or oneembodiment, following the flow chart in FIG. 711 through blocks 9.6.4 d,9.6.5 e and optionally 9.6.6 a, the processor performs steps todetermine Motion Status. The output of the vibration sensor, monitoredby the processor, indicates that a club is in motion. The output of thevibration sensor is assigned as Motion Status 9.7.0, for example, alogic 0 for not in motion or still, and a logic 1 for in motion. A valueis assigned to New Activity based on consecutive readings of thevibration sensor. A New Activity value of +1 indicates that the movementof the club has changed since the previous reading; and a value of −1indicates that the movement of a club has not changed since the previousreading, as shown in blocks 9.7.1 and 9.7.3. A test is performed inblock 9.7.7 to determine if the activity has occurred for a number ofcycles, for example, 2 in this embodiment, of checking vibration sensoroutput. The activity represents In Motion or Not In Motion (still), andthe test in block 9.7.7 determines if this activity has occurred for therequired number of cycles of monitoring of the vibration sensor. If itis determined that activity (motion or non-motion) has occurred for 2cycles, for example, the processor prompts the transmitter to transmitthe status that includes Motion Status. Similarly, if it is determinedthat the activity (In Motion or Not-In-Motion) has not occurred for 2cycles, there is no transmission of Motion Status. In anotherembodiment, additional sensors can be included in the club tag. Thesesensors could be, for example, piezo-electric devices, accelerationsensors, shock sensors, or vibration measuring devices. With these typesof sensors, in addition to the techniques described above, the club tagcould recognize the impact of the club hitting the ball. This could helpdetermine the difference between practice swings and actual strokes.Note: in certain embodiments, certain types of motion sensors, forexample vibration sensors and piezo devices, may require no power orvery low power in order to sense motion, compared to other types ofsensors such as impact/shock sensors and accelerometers.

Automated Golf Game Tracking with Motion and Impact Sensors

Techniques incorporating a combination of sensors may be implemented toprovide a fully automated golf data collection system, in which a golfstroke is recorded at a particular location, using a particular club. Aspreviously described, at least one of a light switch and light meter areused to determine if a club is in or out of the golf bag. At least oneof a technique previously described determines which club is in motion.These techniques may include determining motion by the use of at leastone of the following sensors: motion sensor, vibration sensor,accelerometer, and light meter. An additional sensor may be implementedto determine that an actual stroke has occurred by detecting the impactof the golf club on the golf ball. In one embodiment, this additionalsensor may act as an impact sensor, such as a vibration sensor,accelerometer, shock/impact sensor or piezo-electric device.

An impact sensor in combination with motion sensing techniquesdetermines when a stoke has occurred. In a particular embodiment, whenthe tag detects motion of the club due to variances in light it reportsmotion. Optionally, the tag also reports a value to indicate the amountof motion, as previously described. Alternatively, a motion sensingdevice, such as an accelerometer, tilt, or vibration sensor, maydetermine that a club is in motion. With the addition of an impactsensor, the tag reports motion followed immediately by, or in closeassociation with, an impact, for example, the impact may be precededand/or succeeded by sensed motion. It may be helpful in some situationsto require a report of impact from the tag, after or during the reportsof motion from the tag to confirm that a stroke occurred. The additionof other types of sensors such as tilt, vibration, accelerometers, etc.can also be added to the light sensor(s) or motion sensor for furtherrefinement of the system.

One embodiment of an automated golf data collection system is shown inFIG. 49 and described herein. This figure shows an example for a singleclub. It is to be understood that this processing applies to all clubsin use and occurs concurrently for all clubs. A club is removed from thebag 4901, activating at least one of a light sensing device, indicatingthat the club is out of the bag. When the club is removed from the bag,an impact sensing device is also activated 4902. In one embodiment, alight meter takes a light intensity reading every two seconds aspreviously described. Based on variations in light meter readings, it isdetermined that a club is in motion 4903, also previously described.Alternatively, a motion sensing device, such as an accelerometer, tilt,or vibration sensor, may determine that a club is in motion 4903. Theimpact sensor is on and monitoring for impacts 4902. The data from allsensors is compiled in the microprocessor in the tag. The microprocessorprompts the RF transmitter to transmit this data to the golf device, forexample a golf GPS device. The data provided to the golf device includesif the club is in or out of the bag, if a club is in motion or not inmotion, optionally the amount of motion by a particular club, and datathat a club has just had an impact 4904. The microprocessor in the golfdevice collects and processes this data. The combination of data from aclub that reports in-motion 4908 and reports an impact 4907 determinesthat a stroke has occurred 4910. Optionally, the combination of datathat a club reports recent motion 4908, such as in the previous 10seconds, and reports an impact 4907 determines that a stroke hasoccurred 4910. In a further embodiment, the combination of data from aclub that reports in-motion and an amount of motion greater than apredetermined threshold of motion 4909 and an impact determines that astroke has occurred 4910. The combination of motion sensing and impactsensing in order to report a stroke is an improvement over using onlyimpact sensing. For a system with an impact sensor only, there may beerrors in reporting impacts, such as hitting the club against an objector the ground. By combining impact sensing with motion sensing, thereare less errors in determining when an actual stroke has occurred andpotential ways to conserve tag battery power.

Some impact sensing devices, such as tilt, vibration, and impactsensors, do not need to be in an active power state. The sensor may beconfigured to toggle a pin in the microprocessor or to provide aninterrupt to the microprocessor when the state of the impact sensorchanges. That is the output of the sensing device changes from a “0”(zero) to a “1” (one) or from a “1” to a “0”. The microprocessor may bein a low-power or sleep state or it may be in an active “on” statebefore the pin toggles. In all of these states, the microprocessorrecognizes a change on input pin that prompts the microprocessor to wakeup or enter an “on” state. The change on this input pin of themicroprocessor would indicate that an impact has occurred.

Some impact sensors, such as accelerometers, and certain types ofshock/impact sensors must be in an active state in order to accuratelycapture the impact of the club on the ball. This active state may be astate in which a relatively significant amount of current is consumed.It is desirable to limit the amount of time the impact sensing device isin an active state in order to prolong battery life of the tag. Somepower saving techniques are described herein. A typical power savingtechnique is to periodically turn on the device and take a reading. Thetime period between these readings may be less than one second, such asone-tenth of one second. In one typical embodiment, the microprocessorin the tag prompts the impact sensor to turn on and monitor for impactfor a period of time. After this period of time the microprocessorprompts the impact sensor to turn off or to enter a low-power mode.

It would be possible to miss the impact if it occurred during the timewhen the device is off or in a low-power state, between the periods ofturning on the device. For some sensors, it would be necessary to havethe device on in order to sense the actual impact. A method toaccomplish this is to power up the impact sensing device when it isanticipated that a stroke will occur. Monitoring the motion of a clubusing techniques previously described may be used to determine when astroke is imminent. This motion information can be used to provide powerto the impact sensing device such that it is fully powered inanticipation of the club stroke occurrence. As long as the club reportsin motion, the impact sensor is powered continuously. When the club nolonger reports in motion, the impact sensor is returned to a low-poweror no-power state.

A method of providing power to an impact sensing device is shown in FIG.50 and is described as follows. A club is removed from the bag,activating at least one of a light sensing device, indicating that theclub is out of the bag 5001. The impact sensor is in a low-power orno-power state 5002. In one embodiment, a light meter takes a lightreading every two seconds as previously described. Based on variationsin light meter readings, it is determined that a club is in motion 5003,also previously described. Alternatively, a motion sensing device, suchas an accelerometer, tilt, or vibration sensor, may determine that aclub is in motion 5003. Using the motion status, the microprocessor mayprompt the impact sensor to turn on in a continuously powered state andto monitor for an impact. While the motion sensing device is indicatingthat the club is in motion, the impact sensor is in a continuously “on”state 5004. When the club is no longer in motion, the microprocessor mayprompt the impact sensing device to return to a low-power or no-powerstate 5006. Optionally the impact sensing device may remain in acontinuously “on” state for a period of time, for example 10 seconds,after the motion sensor indicates no motion then return to a low-poweror no-power state.

In a further embodiment, the motion sensing device reports a degree oramount of motion, for example, reporting a value that indicates averagevalue in light meter variation or accumulated sum of light metervariation as previously described. This value indicating amount ofmotion may be used in conjunction with the above power-saving technique.Based on the value reported for the amount of motion, the microprocessormay prompt the impact sensing device to turn on in a continuouslypowered state and to monitor for an impact. The microprocessor wouldprompt the impact sensing device only when the value for the amount ofmotion is greater than a predetermined threshold 5005. A typical swingof the golf club produces values that represent amount of motion thatare much higher than other actions indicating motions, such as holdingthe club in a hand or leaning on the club. By using a threshold for theamount of motion to fully power an impact sensing device, that devicewould only be powered on when a stroke is about to occur and not bepowered up for other actions that may indicate a small amount of motion.

Sensing Putter Activity

In one particular embodiment, a putter would contain a tag with a piezodevice with more sensitivity than tags in other clubs in order to pickup subtle impacts on the ball. The putter does not report the sameamount of motion as other clubs, and the motions of a putter can be verysmall and subtle. The addition of a piezo or other sensitive impactsensing device would capture the potentially mild impact of a putt. Inone embodiment, when an impact is detected by the piezo device, it isdetermined that a putt, or stroke, has occurred.

A putter in motion has a particular pattern of motion, in fact the clubmay not be in motion when the golfer is set up to make a putt. For thesereasons, golf data collected from a putter may be processed differently.One particular embodiment for collecting golf data from putter isdescribed herein. The putter is removed from the bag, activating atleast one of a light sensing device, indicating that the club is out ofthe bag. A light meter takes a light reading every two seconds aspreviously described. Based on variations in light meter readings, it isdetermined that a club is in motion. Optionally in addition todetermining that the club is in motion, a value representing the amountof motion is calculated by the microprocessor in the club tag.Alternatively a motion sensing device, such as an accelerometer, tilt,vibration, or other sensor determines that the club is in motion. Thedata from all the sensors is compiled in the microprocessor in the clubtag and is transmitted to a golf device. The data provided includes ifthe club is in or out of the bag, if the club is in motion or not inmotion, optionally the amount of motion by the club, and data that aclub has just had an impact. For the putter in particular this data canbe processed as follows. The club is removed from the bag, then clubreports that it is in motion, then the club reports that it is not inmotion, indicating that the golfer is setting up the putt. After that,the club reports an impact, which determines that a putt has occurred.Alternately, other sensing devices, such as microphones, could beincluded in the club tags to “listen” for subtle impacts of the putter.The golf device could use GPS information to only monitor for putterimpacts when on the putting surface. In this way, if a random impactoccurs on the putter, and the golfer is not located close to the puttinggreen, the data that an impact occurred would not be implemented by thegolf device.

Incorporating Motion and/or Impact Sensing into a Golf Watch Device

The golf device can be configured as a watch or wristband or glove to beworn by the golfer. The watch (or other type of article) may include allof the GPS and golf course mapping information included in typical golfGPS devices. In one embodiment, the watch (or other type of article) canbe the golf accessory 5101 in FIG. 51 or one of the GPS watches 5205 or5207 in FIG. 52. The watch (or other type of article) may also includeone or more impact or motion sensing devices, such as a piezo-electricdevice, tilt sensor, accelerometer, or impact sensor. The impact and/ormotion sensing device(s) can be configured to recognize that a golfstroke has occurred based on the characteristic of the motion and/orimpact. In one embodiment, the watch (or other type of article) can alsoinclude a user activatable switch that, when activated by the golfer,indicates to a processing system in the watch that a stroke was taken(and to use the GPS receiver to determine and record the location of thestroke); this switch can be used independently of the impact and/ormotion sensing devices so that the golfer can indicate a stroke wastaken in cases in which the sensors do not detect a stroke (such as alight, short putt). In another embodiment, the switch can be used as analternative to these sensors; for example, the sensors, if present,merely detect a possible stroke and cause the watch to present a userinterface that requests the golfer to indicate whether a stroke occurredby telling the golfer to activate the switch to indicate the stroke. Theswitch can be an electromechanical switch or can be a displayed buttonon a touch screen of the golf device. When the golfer grips the golfclub during a stroke, and the golf club hits the ball, the shock of theimpact travels up the golf club and into the hand and arm of the golfer.An impact sensor worn on the wrist or hand would sense this shock on thewrist and forearm and register that an impact has occurred. The swingingmotion made by the arms when the golfer swings the club would be sensedby the motion sensing device. Including the motion/impact sensingdevice(s) in the watch, rather than in each of the golf club tags doestwo things: 1) it captures similar information relative to the golf clubswing and impact as the watch is worn on the wrist and is an extensionof the golf club in many ways, 2) it saves on size and cost in the golfclub tag electronics—which is important.

The golf device watch, such as the golf accessory 5101, is incommunication with the golf club tags, either one-way communication inwhich the tag transmits data to the golf device, or two-waycommunication in which the tag and golf device each contain both atransmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the club tag communicateswith the golf watch device by transmitting a coded signal indicatingthat the club is out of the golf bag. When it is determined that animpact has occurred, the golf device watch may select the club that isout as the club that has taken the stroke. If more than one golf club isout of the bag when the stroke occurs, the golf device watch may choosefrom the clubs that are out based on their proximity to the golf device.When the golfer is using a club, the position of the club tag is veryclose to the golf device watch worn on the wrist, so if it can bedetermined which club is closest to the golf device, this club isselected as the club in use for the current stroke. When the impact ofthe ball against the club is sensed, the golf device may then monitorfor the closest tag in a few different ways. The club tag may betransmitting periodically as long as the tag is out of the bag or it maytransmit for a period of time when prompted by the golf device (e.g.,watch 5101). The golf device (e.g., watch 5101) receives a signal fromthe one or more tags and determines which tag is the closest. This maybe accomplished by using a Bluetooth Low Energy proximity profileprotocol. In one embodiment when Bluetooth is used, the watch includes aBluetooth transceiver that communicates with Bluetooth transceivers ineach club tag, and the Bluetooth transceivers in the club tags act asRFID systems and provide identifiers of each club to the Bluetoothtransceiver in the watch (e.g., watch 5101), and in addition, theseBluetooth transceivers provide proximity profiles that correlate tosignal strength (e.g., RSSI) which is used to determine the club that isclosest to the watch. A processing system in the watch or other golfaccessory can be configured (e.g. programmed with firmware and/orsoftware) to cause the Bluetooth transceiver in the watch to determinethe proximity profiles (which correlate to RSSIs) in response to eithersensing of an impact by the impact sensor (e.g., 5109) or sensing ofmotion by a motion sensor or a combination of impact sensing and motionsensing. Hence, the determination of the club used (based onRSSI/proximity profiles) is performed in response to determining a clubis in use through impact sensing or motion sensing or both. Othertechniques may be used, such as using RSSI (Received Signal StrengthIndicator) in the golf device receiver or a received signal threshold inthe golf device receiver.

Automation Techniques

Other techniques can be incorporated to determine that a stroke hasoccurred that make the system more reliable. Some impacts received bythe golf device watch may not actually be the club hitting a ball. Suchimpacts might be: a practice swing that hits the ground, jostling theclubs in the golf bag, hitting a hard object with the club such as arock. The system can be configured to use additional factors todetermine that a stroke has occurred.

One technique is to monitor the GPS location of the device and if thedevice is in motion. When the golfer is riding in the cart, walking, orotherwise in motion, a stroke would not occur. If the golf device watchsenses an impact while the device is in motion, this impact may bedisregarded by the golf device. Furthermore, the golf device may onlymonitor for an impact while the golf device is not in motion asdetermined by the movement monitored by the GPS.

Another technique is to equip the golf device with an accelerometer. Thegolf device would monitor for motion determined by the accelerometer andcharacterize that motion. Typical motion monitored by the accelerometercould include riding in a cart or walking. It also may include motionassociated with various types of swings of the golf club. These motionshave different characteristics, and the motion associated with moving orwalking may be different than the motion associated with swinging theclub. If the golf device watch senses an impact and the golfer is inmotion, e.g. walking, the impact may be disregarded by the golf device.The golf device may only monitor for an impact while he golf device isnot in motion as determined by the movement monitored by theaccelerometer. Furthermore, if the golf device is in motion thatrepresents a swing of the golf club, it may be configured to expect animpact and register that a stroke has occurred once the impact occurs.The golf device may also use a combination of events and data todetermine that a stroke has occurred, such as the golf device being inone particular location for a period of time and the motion representingthe swing of the golf club. The golf device then prompts and/or listensfor a signal from the closest club and records that one as the club usedfor the stroke. Similarly, as previously described, the golf device mayselect the last club used in the one location. In this embodiment, theimpact sensor is not equipped in the golf device.

Automation Including an Active Tag in the Golf Ball

Further techniques for automating golf data collection are described.The golf ball may be equipped with circuitry that senses movement andcommunicates with a golf device. Receiving data from the golf ball inconjunction with receiving data from the golf club can provide a golfdata collection system that is fully automatic without need for inputfrom the golfer. An active tag in a golf ball can include, in oneembodiment, a sensor configured to detect a hit of the golf ball andconfigured to activate/awake a processing logic in the ball and an RFtransmitter in the ball in response to sensing the hit; the sensor canbe powered by a battery and periodically turns on, in one embodiment, tosense a hit and turns off if no hit is sensed. Alternatively, the sensoris in a no-power or low-power state, and a hit activates the sensor toturn on, such as closing a contact in a switch. In this alternativeembodiment, an impact sensor, such as an accelerometer or motion sensor,acts as a passive switch which is normally open (not conducting current)and when it is hit, the passive switch momentarily closes (therebyconducting current) as a result of the hit and then returns to thenormally open state. For an impact sensor that is a normally closedswitch, the sensor can be coupled in series with a high value resistorthat limits current to a small amount while the sensor is in itsnormally closed switch state, and when it is opened (as a result of adetected impact), the switch opens momentarily, and this opening of theswitch can be sensed by processing logic, such as a pin on amicrocontroller. If a hit is sensed, it turns on the rest of theprocessing logic and the RF transmitter, and operates in one of themethods described herein.

System of Golf Ball Tag, Club Tag, Golf Device

As shown in FIG. 24A, one embodiment of the automated golf datacollection system consists of at least one club tag 910, at least onegolf ball tag 912, and a receiving device, such as a golf GPS device911. The club tag includes a transmitter 914 operating at, for example2.4 GHz, antenna 913, a microprocessor 915, a battery (not shown) and atleast one sensor 916, for example one or more light sensors and/orvibration sensors. The golf ball tag includes a transmitter 932operating at, for example 2.4 GHz, antenna 931, a microprocessor 933, abattery (not shown), and one or more sensors 934, for example, avibration, tilt, piezo, shock, acceleration sensor, or motion sensor.The golf GPS device includes at least one antenna 921, at least onereceiver 922, a microprocessor 923, and golf GPS circuitry and userinterface 924. The golf GPS circuitry, user interface and microprocessor(or other processing system) may include functions for the one or moreof the club tag, ball tag and golf GPS device. The club tag and golfball tag information is used to implement one or more of golf datacollection and missing club reminder functionality. For the golf datacollection function, the club tag provides information, such asidentifying a club used for a golf stroke, and optionally informationabout the motion of the club; the golf ball tag transmits information,such as identifying the ball and instantaneous data when the ball hasbeen hit. The data transmitted may include status about whether the ballis in motion or is still or has been hit with a golf club. The golf GPSdevice can be configured to selectively use information from the clubtag and the ball tag. For example, the device may ignore transmissionsindicating movement of the ball if there are no clubs out of the bag touse in the golf stroke.

Schematic of Golf Ball Tag

Ball Circuit—2.4 GHz Transmitter/Transceiver with Microprocessor

Various embodiments of the club tag have already been described. Asshown in FIG. 25A, the golf ball tag includes, in one embodiment, anantenna AN1, one or more motion or vibration sensors U2 and U3, amicroprocessor and RF transmitter or transceiver U4, and a battery BT1.In this embodiment the transmitter operates at 2.4 GHz and may be Nordic2.4 GHz transceiver. Other embodiments may include a microcontrollerthat is separate from the 2.4 GHz transceiver or transmitter. Theantenna may be a trace on the printed circuit board, alternatively theantenna may be a discrete part mounted on the printed circuit board or atuned element, such as a wire of specific length, for exampleone-quarter the wavelength of the transmit frequency, suspended awayfrom the printed circuit board and embedded in the ball material. Theantenna may also be made of elastic conductive material on an elasticsubstrate as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,691,009 and 7,766,766 andpending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/552,162.

Ball Circuit—Tripler to 2.4 GHz

Referring to the schematic in FIG. 25B, one embodiment of the ballcircuit is described. This circuit is an injection locked oscillatoroperating at triple the frequency of the SAW resonator. The SAWresonator Y1 operates at, for example, 809 MHz. The 809 MHz is amplifiedby transistor Q1 and the 3rd harmonic 2427 MHz is selected from thissignal by filtering. This signal is further amplified Q3, to provide atransmit signal of approximately 1 milliwatt or 0 dBm. The transmitsignal is On-Off Keyed (OOK), implemented by the microcontroller U3. Theantenna may optionally include a ceramic resonator Y2 in the shape of asphere. This ceramic resonator may be incorporated as the micro-corethat encapsulates the electrical components. In this embodiment,metallization may be applied to the outside surface of the ceramicresonator to provide a printed antenna and antenna connections to theinternal circuitry. This metallization optionally acts as a tuningelement for the antenna such that the ceramic resonator in conjunctionwith the antenna is tuned at the transmit frequency, such as 2427 MHz.

Ball Activation Techniques

The golf ball contains active circuitry, in one embodiment, and it isdesirable to have this circuitry off while the ball is not in use.Different techniques are discussed to activate or turn on the ball forall or part of a round of golf.

Hall—Effect Sensor Activation

In one embodiment, one sensor on the ball may be a Hall-effect sensorthat responds to a magnetic field. The ball is placed near a magnet thatmay be incorporated in the golf device or other golf accessory such as aglove, shoe, etc. The Hall-effect sensor in the ball activates thecircuit for a predetermined period of time, for example, 6 hours orenough time to complete a round of golf.

Motion or Impact Sensing

In another typical embodiment, a sensor in the golf ball may be a motionor impact sensor that responds to movement or impact of the golf ball,such as a hit by the golf club. In response to a change of motion of theball, indicated by the sensor, the processor causes the transmitter totransmit data including information that the ball is in motion and hasbeen hit. The change of motion may be determined by a sensor such aspiezo, vibration, shock, motion sensor, acceleration sensor, etc. Themotion or impact sensor in the ball activates the circuit for apredetermined period of time, for example, 6 hours or enough time tocomplete a round of golf. Alternatively, the motion or impact sensoractivates the circuit for a shorter period of time, for example, lessthan one second, just long enough to transmit that the ball has beenhit.

Techniques of Automatic Data Collection Using Ball & Club Tags

Ball Transmits Information when Hit

The combination of data from the club tag and from the golf ball tagprovides a technique of automatically collecting golf data withoutinteraction by the golfer. The tag on the club communicates with thegolf device, and the device determines which club is in use, based onmotion sensing of the club by vibration or motion sensor or light metervariations, as previously described. The tag in the golf ballcommunicates with the golf device, and the device determines that aparticular ball is being hit. In one embodiment of a method as shown inFIG. 26A, the golf ball is in a deep sleep state 1112 (with the motionor impact sensor periodically checking for a hit and then sleeping (in alow power state) and repeating this process) until it is hit.Alternatively, the sensor is in a no-power or low-power state, and a hitactivates the sensor to turn on, such as closing a contact in a switch.In this alternative embodiment, an impact sensor, such as anaccelerometer or motion sensor, acts as a passive switch which isnormally open (not conducting current) and when it is hit, the passiveswitch momentarily closes (thereby conducting current) as a result ofthe hit and then returns to the normally open state. For an impactsensor that is a normally closed switch, the sensor can be coupled inseries with a high value resistor that limits current to a small amountwhile the sensor is in its normally closed switch state, and when it isopened (as a result of a detected impact), the switch opens momentarily,and this opening of the switch can be sensed by processing logic, suchas a pin on a microcontroller. The motion or impact sensor detects thehit and then causes the rest of the golf ball tag to turn on. The golfball tag wakes up when hit and starts transmitting on a predeterminedcycle 1113, for example, every 2 seconds for a duration of 20 minutes,then it returns to a deep sleep state. The transmission may include datathat indicates if the golf ball is in motion or at rest. While inmotion, the golf ball tag may initially transmit more frequently thanwhile at rest. For example, when in motion the golf ball tag maytransmit 4 times in one second for a period of 10 seconds, then returnto a less frequent transmission, such as every 2 seconds. Alternately,the golf ball tag may transmit only when hit, and may cease to transmitwhen no longer in motion. The data transmitted may include a status bitthat indicates if it is in motion or not in motion. When the ball is hitusing a driver, the initial velocity of the ball may be 150 miles perhour or more. The data that the ball has been hit must be transmittedquickly while the ball is in proximity to the golf device, for exampleduring the first one second of flight. The first in-motion transmissionsoccur more frequently to be successfully received while in proximity tothe golf device. On receiving the information that the golf ball hasbeen hit 1114, the golf device determines which club in use 1107, asindicated by its motion 1105, and marks the spot (for example, byrecording a current latitude and longitude from a GPS receiver in thegolf device) and records that a stroke has occurred 1110.

Putts by Motion/Impact Sensor

When a ball is putted, the motion or impact sensor indicates that theball has been hit, and the putt is positively identified. This overcomesdeficiencies in other systems that monitor that a ball has moved basedon the presence of the ball then the absence of the ball. Thetransmitted motion information of the ball determines definitively whenthe putt occurs. For each stroke, when the golf device receives theinformation from the ball that a hit has occurred, the golf device looksfor the last received information from a club in use based on itsmotion, and the stroke is recorded with the particular club. Each golfball tag can include a quasi-unique identifier that is transmitted asdata when the ball is hit or at rest. If a ball identifier is recordedduring the round of golf that is different than a previously recordedball identifier, indicating that the golfer is using a different ballthan originally played, the device may assess a penalty stroke for alost ball.

Vibration & Impact Sensors

In one embodiment the golf ball tag may contain one or more sensors tocharacterize motion, such as, for example, a vibration sensor, shocksensor, acceleration sensor, motion sensor, or piezo electric device.One embodiment of multiple sensors is shown in the schematics in FIGS.25A and 25B. In FIG. 25A, the components U2 and U3 represent sensors; inFIG. 25B, the components U2 and Q2 represent sensors. The response ofthe sensor to the motion may indicate the type of motion that hasoccurred. The combination of two sensors could be used to record evensubtle strokes. For example, an impact sensor could turn the ball “on”at the beginning of the round (e.g. the first stroke using a club, suchas a driver). The ball circuit could be configured to stay on for apredetermined amount of time, such as six hours after the impact sensorturned the ball on. A vibration sensor could be used to report motion ofthe ball, which would capture any movement of the ball including putts,sand shots, or any low impact strokes.

Multiple Shock Sensors, Various Sensitivities and Geo-Location

In another embodiment, multiple sensors with various sensitivities canbe used to characterize motion in the golf ball tag. For example, animpact sensor could be used to record high impact shots, such as drives,and a more sensitive impact sensor (e.g. piezo) could be used to recordlow impact strokes, such as putts. A sensitive impact sensor could havethe advantage of being able to distinguish between a putt and the golferpicking up the ball on the green. Geo-locations (such as a latitude anda longitude from a GPS receiver which is then compared to a stored mapof the golf course) in addition to type of motion information may beused to add intelligence to the system. For example, when the golfer isnear the green or a sand trap, the expected type of hit would be a lessforceful hit than, for example, a ball hit from the tee. That is, puttson or close to the green and pitches from a sand trap register lessshock or acceleration in, for example, a motion, tilt, piezo, vibration,shock, or acceleration sensor. The golf GPS device can use currentlocation in relation to features of the golf course to determine whatkind of hit is expected to occur, for example, a putt when on or closeto the putting green. When the golfer is not located near the puttinggreen or is not located in or near a sand trap, the golf GPS device canbe configured to ignore strokes or other impacts of less shock andacceleration. That is, the device can ignore low-acceleration orlow-impact shots or motions when not putting or pitching, based on theresponse of the one or more motion or other sensors. A typical scenariothat illustrates this technique is when the golfer is located in the teebox, the golf GPS device expects a high-impact shot and ignoresless-forceful hits or other impacts such as might occur when the golferis taking small practice hits with the ball while waiting to tee off.

A typical method of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 44. The two sensorsin the golf ball tag are of different sensitivities, for example a HighImpact sensor and a Low Impact sensor. Data from the two sensors istransmitted to the golf device when there is an impact 4401. Theprocessor in the golf device analyzes the received impact data. If theHigh Impact sensor was activated 4403, a stroke is recorded 4406 and4408. This would represent a typical stroke taken with a driver. If theHigh Impact sensor was not activated, the processor analyzes the LowImpact sensor data. A stroke that registers a low impact but not a highimpact might include a putt or pitch out of a sand trap. If the LowImpact Sensor was not activated 4404, no stroke is recorded 4407. If theLow Impact sensor was activated 4404, the processor does an analysis ofthe location determined by the GPS function in the golf device 4405. Ifthe location is close to a green or sand trap, the stroke is recorded4406 and 4408. If the location is not close to a green or sand trap, thestroke is not recorded 4407. An activation of the Low Impact sensor thatis not near a green or a sand trap is probably a practice tap of theball and would not be considered a stroke.

Pattern of Motion with Active Ball

A series of motions may be used to automatically determine that a strokehas occurred. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26B, when the golferis setting up to take a stroke, he is next to the ball for a period oftime. As previously described, the ball may be transmitting its motionstatus, and in this scenario, the ball is transmitting that it is not inmotion or at rest 1120. When the golf device records a series ofreadings that the ball is at rest at a particular location a fixeddistance from the golfer, that is the golfer is not moving 1122, thesystem recognizes that this action signifies that a stroke may occur1123. The system may determine that the golfer is in a fixed positionbased on the received signal strength from the golf ball tag. Thesubsequent actions of the club tag indicating movement 1124, followed bythe golf ball tag indicating movement 1125 would all determine that aball has been hit and identify the club used for the hit. The processingsystem would record the club used, mark the spot and record a stroke1126.

Golf Ball Circuitry Implementation

The following is a discussion of techniques for incorporating a circuitin a golf ball. A typical golf ball is comprised of a center core and anoutside layer, and optionally an additional layer between the centercore and outside layer. The center core usually has a spherical shape.Various techniques for incorporating circuitry in a golf ball aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,645, granted Aug. 23, 2011, U.S. Pat.No. 7,691,009, granted Apr. 6, 2010, U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,766, grantedAug. 3, 2010, and patent application Ser. No. 13/230,779, filed Sep. 12,2011, Ser. No. 12/552,162, filed Sep. 1, 2009, and Ser. No. 12/848,962,filed Aug. 2, 1010, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.These techniques include applying electronic components on the outsideof the core in preformed voids. Antennas are applied to the corematerial with elastic conductive ink and electrical connections are alsoimplemented using this ink. Other techniques described include insertingthe electrical components and circuitry into the golf ball core beforethe core is formed. The antenna and electrical connections are appliedusing one or more of elastic conductive ink, a thin elastic substratecontaining circuitry and, in some embodiments, voids in the elasticsubstrate that allow the ball core material to flow through and connectthe two halves of the ball core in the molding process.

Encapsulate Components—Micro-Core

As shown in FIG. 27, a further technique to apply components to the ballis to encapsulate the components in a micro-core 2701, which is theninserted into the center of the ball core 2702, which is then coveredwith a golf ball cover 2703. Another embodiment is to encapsulate thecomponents inside a tubular core, which is then inserted into a hole inthe micro-core.

Embed Components in Micro-Core or in Voids on Surface of Ball Core

In a typical embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27, the electronics inside themicro-core 2701 include: a battery, a transmitter, a microprocessorincluding memory and code, and optionally one or more sensors, such as avibration sensor, shock sensor, or piezo-electric device. An antenna ‘A’may be contained inside the micro-core, alternatively an antenna ‘B’ maybe comprised of circuitry on flexible or elastic substrate that extendsoutward from the micro-core. In one embodiment, the tag can include twoantennas, one inside the micro-core and another extending outwardly fromthe micro-core and the antennas may be on different planes for optimalperformance. In another embodiment, electronics may include a ceramicresonator, a SAW resonator, an amplifier consisting of one or morediscrete transistors, a microcontroller, and optionally one or moresensors as previously described. In an alternate embodiment, the 2.4 GHzRF transmitter or transceiver might incorporate a microcontroller, suchas a Nordic Semiconductor part number 24LE1, and crystal in place of thediscrete microcontroller, resonator, and amplifier. In eachimplementation, the microprocessor can contain memory with computerprogram code and performs algorithms and provides data, for example, anidentifier and status information such as in motion or not in motion.The memory can be any known form of a machine readable non-transitorystorage medium, such as a semiconductor memory. In one typicalembodiment, components are embedded in voids on the surface of the ballcore, with electrical connections provided by conductive elastic ink orcircuitry contained on thin flexible or elastic substrate. Techniques toincorporate circuitry on the surface of the ball core are described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,691,009 and 7,766,766 and co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/552,162.

Micro-Core with Components, Embed in Center of Ball

Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, a technique for embedding electroniccircuitry in a golf ball is described. The electronic components arehoused inside a micro-core 2701 in FIGS. 27 and 2801 in FIG. 28. Themicro-core is intended to encapsulate the electronics, protecting thecircuitry from the heat and pressure of the manufacturing process andprotecting the circuitry from damage during use. In some embodiments themicro-core material can be material that cures in a low heat environmentor by chemical reaction, such as two-part epoxy or polyurethane. Themicro-core is sealed around the electronic circuitry, and the electroniccircuitry may be fully contained within the micro-core. Alternatively,some component of the electronic circuitry, such as the antenna, may becontained outside of the micro-core and electrically connected tocircuitry inside the micro-core.

Micro-Core with External Electrical Connections with Elastic Ink

In one embodiment, the micro-core contains electronic circuitry withelectrical leads protruding from the micro-core. These electrical leadsmay be one or more of the antenna and other electrical circuitry, suchas circuits containing sensors that characterize or measure motion orimpacts. These electrical leads may be composed of electricallyconductive elastic ink on a thin flexible substrate, such as Kapton, oron a thin elastic substrate, such as HDPE. The leads may wrap partiallyaround the micro-core as shown in FIG. 29, or the leads may protrudeoutward away from the micro-core as shown in FIG. 30. In someembodiments, the elastic conductive protrusion out of the micro-core mayform the antenna and allow core material to flow from one half of thepre-molded core to the other half during the core molding process. Theball core is comprised of two halves. Semi-spherical voids (e.g., ahemispherical void) or voids having other 3-dimensional shapes may bedisposed on center of the flat surface in each half of the ball core anda battery, an RF transmitter and processing logic can be disposed in thevoid. In one embodiment, one or more of electrical circuitry and antennapatterns made up of conductive elastic ink may be applied to one or bothsurfaces of the flat half of the ball core as shown in FIG. 30. Theelastic conductive ink may optionally be applied to the voids. Theelastic ink is cured, by air or by heat. The micro-core is inserted intothe void in the first flat half of the ball core as shown in FIG. 30.Optionally, additional elastic conductive ink may be applied to the flatsurfaces of the core and to the outside of the micro-core to make theelectrical connections between the circuitry in the micro-core and thecircuitry applied to the flat surface of the ball core half. The secondhalf of the ball core is assembled over the first half of the ball core,enclosing the micro-core in the voids in the center. As shown in FIG.31, the two halves of the ball core, half 3101 and half 3103, areassembled around micro-core 3105 as shown in FIG. 31, which is a sideview of the assembly of the two halves and the micro-core. The antennaincludes two elements which protrude outwardly from the micro-core,shown as antenna elements 3107A and 3107B. As shown in this side view,the micro-core is placed between the two halves and then is placed in amold to form the outer core from the halves 3101 and 3103 to form thefinal structure such as that shown in FIG. 32. The half-cores are sealedtogether, using heating techniques typically used in the manufacture ofgolf ball cores. The application of heat also cures the recently appliedconductive ink and completes the electrical connections betweenmicro-core and ball core. As shown in FIG. 32, the shell or cover of thegolf ball is applied over the core using typical manufacturingtechniques. Portions of the circuit that protrude outside of themicro-core could be designed to act as a heat sink to protect theinternal components from heat during the manufacturing process.

Micro-Core with External Electrical Connections on Substrate

In another embodiment, one or more of the antenna and electricalcircuitry is printed onto a flexible substrate, such as Kapton or anelastic substrate, such as HDPE. This substrate is electricallyconnected to the substrate containing the electronic components insidethe micro-core, and may optionally be the same substrate. The flexiblesubstrate with the antenna is positioned onto the first half core of thegolf ball, as shown in FIG. 30, and the second half core is positionedonto the first half core. The two half cores are sealed together withthe micro-core and antenna and electrical circuitry on substrate inbetween them, as shown in FIG. 32, using heating techniques typicallyused in the manufacture of golf ball cores. Voids or perforations in thesubstrate allow the core material to flow in between the electriccircuitry connecting the two halves of the core in the molding process.

Method of Manufacturing Golf Ball with Micro-Core

One embodiment of a method of manufacturing the golf ball withmicro-core is described in FIG. 35 and illustrated in FIGS. 28, 29, 30,and 32. In FIG. 35, a void or opening is created in one half-sphere ofthe golf ball core 3501. The micro-core containing one of more ofinternal electronic circuitry, external antenna leads and externalelectrical circuitry is inserted into the opening 3502. Elasticconductive material is applied to the flat surface of the half-sphere3503. The first half sphere is joined with the second half sphere 3504.Using typical golf ball manufacturing techniques, the two half cores arecured 3505 and a shell is attached to the core 3506.

Alternate Method of Manufacturing Golf Ball with Micro-Core

Another embodiment of a method of manufacturing the golf ball withmicro-core is illustrated in FIGS. 39A-F and described in FIG. 40. FIGS.39A and 39B show a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly 3901 withelectrical components 3902 and battery 3903. FIG. 39A shows a front viewand FIG. 39B shows a side view. The battery 3903 may be a primarylithium coin cell battery, for example. The PCB includes metalized padareas 3904 for attaching additional circuitry, such as an antennaassembly, using conductive epoxy, solder, etc. FIG. 39C shows a frontview of an antenna assembly. FIG. 39D shows the antenna assembly from aside view. In one embodiment, an elastic material 3908 serves as asubstrate for additional circuitry and is cut into a shape with openings3906. The openings 3906 allow golf ball core material to flow togetherfrom opposite sides of the antenna assembly as described in FIG. 40. Theelastic substrate 3908 may be made of HDPE or other elastic material.Elastic conductive ink 3907 can be printed on the substrate 3908 to formadditional circuitry, such as antenna elements.

As shown in FIG. 39E, the antenna assembly 3905 is attached to the PCBassembly 3901. The antenna assembly 3905 can be attached to the metallicpad areas 3904 of the PCB assembly using conductive epoxy, solder oranother material that creates a conductive bonding of the two pieces.The attaching of antenna assembly 3905 to PCB assembly 3901 can occur atlocations 3910. Once the PCB and antenna assemblies are attached, aportion of the combined assembly is encased in a spherical material3909, also referred to as a micro-core, as shown in FIG. 39E (front) andFIG. 39F (side). The micro-core encases the electronics, providingprotection from the heat and pressure of the golf ball manufacturingprocess steps that will follow while the antenna 3907 and a portion ofthe substrate 3908 extends outwardly beyond the micro-core. It should beunderstood that the circuitry can be designed such that the conductivematerial that is outside of micro-core (and exposed to high heat)conducts the heat through the circuit in such a way to isolate orprotect the heat sensitive components from any heat transfer.

The micro-core 3909 can be made of a material that hardens such aspolyurethane or a two-part epoxy that cures from a chemical reaction.The micro-core 3909 encases the PCB assembly, including the electricalcomponents and the areas 3910 where the antenna assembly is attached tothe PCB assembly. The encasing protects the parts and the attachmentsfrom the shock the golf ball will be subjected to in use. The micro-corecan be created in a mold that allows the micro-core material to form asphere around a portion of the combined PCB and antenna assemblies. Whenremoved from the mold, the PCB assembly is encased in the micro-core andportions of the antenna assembly are outside of the micro-core. Itshould be understood that the portion of the circuitry that extendsoutside the micro-core could include additional electronics, such aspiezo devices or other devices.

The combined PCB assembly 3909 and antenna assembly 3905 are then placedbetween two halves of golf ball core material in a mold to form the golfball core 3911. Golf ball cores can be made of many materials but aretypically a rubber compound which is cured or vulcanized in highpressure, high heat molds. The two halves of golf ball core material aresituated around the combined PCB and antenna assemblies such that thecenter of gravity of the combined assembly is at the center of the golfball core and the halves, with the combined PCB and antenna assembliesare placed in a mold and are molded using conventional heating andpressure methods to form the spherical golf ball core 3911. The golfball core material can flow through the openings 3906 of the antennaassembly 3905 during the molding process and forms a spherical golf ballcore 3911. The golf ball core then is further processed into a finishedgolf ball.

FIG. 40 illustrates the steps of manufacturing the golf ball withmicro-core described above. First, in step 4001 the PCB is assembledthen attached to the antenna assembly 4002. The combined assemblies areplaced in a mold 4003 and molded 4004. The molding process of themicro-core leaves portions of the antenna circuit outside of themicro-core. A slug of golf ball core material is divided into two halves4005. These halves may or may not have preformed voids to receive themicro-core. The micro-core is placed between two halves of golf ballcore material 4006 and molded 4007. Per 4008, additional processingsteps are performed to produce a finished golf ball.

Method of Manufacturing a Ball with Multiple Sensors

A method of manufacturing a golf ball with multiple sensors is nowdescribed and illustrated in FIGS. 39G-3911. In one embodiment one typeof sensor 3913, for example a shock sensor, is embedded inside themicro-core 3909 of the ball. An additional sensor or sensors 3912, forexample piezo devices, are electrically connected to the PCB and can beon a flexible and/or elastic substrate. When the micro-core is formedthe sensors 3912 are outside of the micro-core as shown in FIG. 39G andFIG. 39H. FIG. 39G shows a cross-sectional view of the micro-core of theball and FIG. 3911 shows a side view of the micro-core of the ball withthe core that encapsulates the micro-core shown with dashed lines. Thesensors 3912 may require a force to activate and being located outsideof the hard micro-core but inside the elastic golf ball core will allowthe sensors 3912 to sense the changes in force and report movement tothe circuit. The sensors 3912 can include adhesive to be attached to theoutside of the micro-core. It should be understood that theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 39G-H is just one example of a possibleconfiguration with sensors outside the micro-core and inside the core.There could be one sensor or several sensors outside the micro-core andthey could be attached to the outside of the micro-core as shown in FIG.3911 or not attached to the outside of the micro-core as shown in FIG.39H. The sensors could be configured where one or more is attached tothe outside of the micro-core and one or more is not. It might beadvantageous to arrange the sensors 3912 such that they could senseforces from all directions.

Tubular Core

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, another technique for embedding electroniccircuitry in a golf ball is described. The electronic components arehoused inside a tubular core, with electrical leads to act as antennaconnections or electrical connections protruding from the core. Theseleads may be composed of electrically conductive elastic ink on a thinflexible substrate, such as Kapton or on a thin elastic substrate, suchas HDPE. The leads may wrap partially around the tubular core. Thetubular core 3301 is inserted into a hole 3402 in the micro-core, withthe electrical leads extending out to the outside surface of themicro-core. The micro-core is inserted into the golf ball core andexternal electrical connections are implemented as previously described.

Ball Finder

The transmitter in the golf ball tag may also act as a beacon in orderto locate a ball that is lost. The golf device may process the receivedsignal from the lost golf ball and give indications to the user on theproximity and direction of the lost ball. The transmitter can beactivated by a sensor in the golf ball that detects a hit of the ball bya golf club.

Passive Tags Passive Tags in Golf Balls

Other techniques of automatically collecting golf data are described. Inone embodiment, a golf ball tag may be a passive RFID tag, such as thoseproduced by Alien Technology. The RFID tag is applied to the core of theball as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,691,009, 7,766,766, and 8,002,645and pending patent application Ser. No. 12/552,162 and 13/230,779. In analternate embodiment, a similar technique uses a golf ball tagimplementing harmonic radar, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,645with coded identifier. The RFID or tag reader is attached to or near thegolfer, for example the reader can be embedded or attached to a golfshoe, hat or other golf accessory. The reader module contains circuitryto query or activate the tag and to receive data from the tag and tocommunicate this data to the golf device. The reader may be a separatedevice, built into a golf accessory worn by or nearby the golfer duringplay. The reader may be incorporated into the golf device, such as a GPSgolf rangefinder (e.g. a SkyCaddie rangefinder from SkyGolf), or it maybe incorporated into a cell phone or personal computing device. Oneembodiment of a method of the present invention is shown in FIG. 41. TheRFID reader queries 4101 and receives a signal 4102 from the golf ball(having, for example, a passive RFID in the golf ball) while the golfball is in range. When the golfer is setting up to take a swing, he isnext to the ball at the same location for a period of time. In oneembodiment, the system records that the ball is at the same location fora period of time based on the received signal strength, operations 4103,4104, and 4105, and therefore assumes that the golfer is setting up totake a stroke. In one particular embodiment, the system then prompts thereader to read the tag more frequently 4106. In this way the reader canmore accurately capture the moment when the ball has been hit, andcontinue to receive transmissions as the ball is moving away from theimmediate area. When the ball is hit, the reader module continues toreceive a signal from the ball as long as the ball is in range. When theball is hit 4107, the reader continues to query and receive a signalfrom the ball during the first part of its flight (such as in operation4108). The received signal is processed in the reader using Dopplertechniques or transient signal analysis to recognize that the ball is inmotion 4108. In operation 4109, the RFID reader indicates to the golfdevice that the golf ball has been hit. On receiving information thatthe ball is in motion and therefore has been hit, the golf devicerecords a stroke at that location 4112 with the club in use 4111 aspreviously described (from operation 4110). Optionally, the suddenabsence of the golf ball code received by the RFID reader, combined withother information received by the golf data collection system, canprompt the recording of a stroke.

RFID Reader in Golf Accessory

A technique for implementing a RFID reader in an accessory worn by thegolfer, such as embedded or attached to a shoe or hat is shown in FIGS.37 and 38. A directional antenna is employed to provide coverage of apredetermined area in which the ball would be located prior to a stroke.

Prior to the golf stroke, the RFID reader queries and receives data fromthe RFID tag in the golf ball. The electronics for the RFID reader arecontained in a small enclosure such that it could be worn on a person.In one embodiment, the RFID reader is worn on a shoe, for example, witha directional antenna providing coverage of the area immediately infront of the shoe. In another embodiment, the RFID reader is worn on ahat, for example a hat with a visor, such as a baseball cap. Thedirectional antenna is incorporated into or attached to the bill of thecap. When the golfer is set up to take a stroke, the bill of the hat ispointed at the golf ball on the ground, such that the ball is in rangeof the RFID reader on the hat. In another embodiment, the RFID readercan be part of a mobile golf GPS rangefinder (e.g., a SkyCaddie fromSkyGolf) which can be worn on a golfer's belt or in a pocket of thegolfer.

When setting up to take a golf stroke, the golfer is in a typicalstance, and the RFID reader can be optimized to take advantage of thatstance. Just before a stroke, the golfer's feet are fixed and pointingforward toward the ball. The directional antenna in the RFID reader thatis attached to the shoe is pointed straight ahead toward the ball, whilethe golfer is in this stance. When the golfer takes a swing, typicallythe foot toward the front stays fixed in place during the swing. Thatis, for a right-handed golfer, the left foot stays fixed during theswing; similarly for a left-handed golfer, the right foot stays fixedduring the swing. The reader can be attached to the foot that staysfixed during the swing. Other characteristics of the golfer's stanceduring a swing include the position of the head. During the swing thehead is down with the face pointing toward the ball on the ground.During the swing, the head stays down until the follow through at theend of the swing. A RFID reader in a hat would contain a directionalantenna that is mounted on the visor of the hat that is pointed at theball on the ground during the swing. For these scenarios, the golfer andRFID reader are in a fixed position relative to the ball before andduring a swing.

RFID Receiver and GPS Receiver as Golf Accessory

In certain embodiments the RFID receiver (configured to receive signalsfrom the RFID club tags and ball tags described herein) and the GPSreceiver are housed in an accessory. The accessory can be worn on thegolfer, for recording the location of the golfer when golf strokesoccur. The accessory can come in many forms, including a watch, a golfglove, a wrist or arm band, a hat clip, belt clip, shoe clip, etc. orthe accessory components can be built directly into items such as awatch, a hat, belt, shoe, etc. The accessory can be further equippedwith a transceiver/radio, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other, for storingreceived RFID data and transferring stored data to other devices (e.g.devices with displays or screens, such as mobile phones, tabletcomputers, golf-cart mounted displays, etc.). The accessory can transferthe data either immediately upon receipt or when the accessory and theother device(s) are a certain distance apart or by a prompt from theuser.

Golf Accessory Equipped with Stroke Sensing Means

In another embodiment, a golf accessory worn by the golfer as describedabove can also be equipped with a means of sensing the golf stroke.Including the means of sensing the golf stroke in the golf accessory(rather than in each of the golf club tags) saves on cost, size, etc. ofincluding the stroke sensing elements in the golf club component/tag.

Stroke Sensing by Impact

For example, a golf watch equipped with GPS, RFID receiver/transceiverfor receiving signals from golf equipment tags, and radio such asBluetooth or Wi-Fi for communicating with a display device, can also beequipped with impact sensing element(s) (such as a piezo device, shocksensor, accelerometer, vibration sensor, tilt sensor, etc.) which cansense the impact of the golf club on the golf ball. Because the watch isworn on the wrist and the wrist is in close proximity to the handsgripping the golf club, the impact of the club on the golf ball willsend shock waves through the club and into the hands and wrist which canbe sensed by the impact sensing element(s). When the golf accessorysenses the impact the golf accessory transmits a signal indicating thatthere was an impact. Alternatively, the golf accessory stores thelocation and time of the impact and the club used in order to transmitthis information at a later time. As described herein, the combinationof a signal indicating impact can be combined with other signals (suchas signals from golf club tags indicating motion of the golf clubs) todetermine which club is being used and when actual golf club strokesoccur. A user activatable switch can also be included to allow a golferto confirm a stroke or swing was taken either independently of thesensors or as a response to a prompt (e.g. a displayed user interfacethat asks the golfer to confirm a sensor detected stroke) caused by oneor more sensors detecting a possible stroke. A golf accessory equippedwith impact or motion sensing element(s), such as the watch describedherein, can take other forms. It can potentially be incorporated intoanything that can be worn on the golfer's hands or arms. For example, anarm band device, a wrist band, a golf glove, a ring, etc. In oneembodiment, an impact sensing device in a golf GPS watch, or other golfaccessory, can be used in combination with golf club RFID tags,described herein, that use measurements of light variations to determinethe golf club in use (due to its “in-motion” status).

Stroke Sensing By Sound

Stroke sensing elements in a golf accessory can be something other thansensing the impact of the golf club on the golf ball. For example, thestroke sensing element can be a microphone, for example, configured to“hear” the sound of the golf club striking the golf club. With a“listening” type of stroke sensing means the listening elements wouldnot have to be included in something worn on the golfer's hands or arms.The listening components could be included in a mobile device, a golfGPS device or a golf accessory device as described herein.

Stroke Sensing By Sight

Stroke sensing elements in a golf accessory could also be components,such as a camera, configured to capture/recognize the image of a golfball and/or the image of a golf club striking a golf ball. Objectrecognition software can be used to capture when a golf ball is presentor not present and/or video can capture when an actual swing occurs.Additional information, such as the spin rate of the golf ball, theinitial velocity of the golf ball and the launch angle of the golf ballcould potentially be captured during an actual round of golf with such adevice. A golf accessory equipped with a camera would be situated tohave the camera pointing toward the area where the golf ball is duringimpact. For example, a golf accessory equipped with a camera could beclipped onto the bill of a golfer's hat as the golfer is always lookingin the direction of the golf ball during a golf swing. A golf accessorywith a camera for capturing a golf stroke could be attached to otheritems, such as golf shoes, belt, ankle strap etc.—any part of the golferthat would allow for the camera to be aimed at the location of the golfball during impact.

Filtering/Correlation

The stroke sensing accessory configurations described herein can each befurther enhanced using other information available to the system, suchas GPS location, motion and magnitude of motion of golf clubs, etc. asdescribed herein.

For the impact sensing approach, different impacts could be “learned” bythe system and correlations can be made to filter out impacts that wouldnot be likely to be accurate. For example, using the system describedherein (i.e. an impact sensing golf accessory, golf club tags, and adisplay device) the golfer could “learn” or program the differentimpacts of different types of swings and different types of clubs. Thiscould be performed by the gofer or by the manufacturer of the system.For example, a Driver striking a golf ball with a full swing will have amuch different impact than a Driver striking a golf ball with agentle/partial swing. And a full swing Driver will have a much differentimpact from a full swing Pitching Wedge. As an example of the system inuse, if the golfer is on the tee box (known by the GPS information) witha Driver in hand (known by the light sensing club tags) and the golfaccessory senses an impact that correlates with that of a partial swingPitching Wedge, the system can “ignore” or filter out that impact assomething erroneous and incorrect. Optionally, the system may store theimpact information for each club over many rounds of golf to create aprofile for that particular golfer. In this way, the system “learns”over time the impact information for the golfer.

Similarly, a stroke sensing system based on sound can be enhanced. Thesound of the golf club striking the golf ball is something that can be“learned” by the sound receiving means by recording the sounds ofvarious clubs for various types of golf swings striking a golf ball. Forexample, the sound of a full swing of a Pitching Wedge striking a golfball will be different than the sound of a partial swing of a PitchingWedge striking a golf ball. And the sound of a full swing Pitching Wedgestriking a golf ball will be very different from the sound of a fullswing Driver striking a golf ball. Other sounds, that do not match orclosely correlate to the expected sound(s) of a particular type of cluband/or swing type, can be filtered out.

Stroke Sensing by Impact Sensing or Button

FIG. 51 shows an example of a system that includes a golf accessory 5101that can wirelessly interact with a set of golf club RFID tags 5102Athrough 5102N and wirelessly communicate with a display device 5103which can be a tablet computer (e.g., an iPad) or a smartphone (e.g., aniPhone). This system can, in one embodiment, monitor the in/out statusof golf clubs and remind the golfer if a club is left behind (in themanners described herein) and can also record that a stroke was taken ata particular location that is determined by the GPS receiver 5105. Thereminder about a club (being left behind) can be displayed on a displayof the golf accessory 5101 or on the display device 5103 or on both, andthe record of a stroke (and the location of the stroke and the club usedto make the stroke as specified by a club identifier from a golf clubRFID tag) can be transmitted through a wireless PAN (Personal AreaNetwork) to the display device 5103, which includes a PAN transceiver5119, such as a Bluetooth transceiver or a WiFi transceiver or a ZigBeetransceiver or an IrDA transceiver, or other PAN transceivers that areknown in the art. A PAN is a form of a short range wireless network,typically having a range of less than 50 or 100 feet, and in some casesless than 25 feet. In one embodiment, the Bluetooth transceiver 5107 canact as an RFID receiver and receive club tag identifiers from Bluetoothtransceivers in each of the golf club tags. In this case, the Bluetoothtransceivers in the club tags are acting as RFID devices. The displaydevice 5103 can include a display and memory, both coupled to aprocessing system; the memory can store one or more maps of golf coursesand the display device 5103 can show the positions, on the maps, of thestrokes taken (with which golf clubs). Further, by accumulating theinformation (about strokes) received from the golf accessory 5101, thedisplay device 5103 can display scores of one or more golfers, eachusing a separate golf accessory such as golf accessory 5101.

The golf club RFID tags in the system, such as RFID tags 5102A through5102N, can be the same as any one of the RFID tags described herein(e.g. the tag shown in FIG. 6A) and can include one or more lightsensors that are used to determine the in/out status of a golf clubrelative to a golf bag (in order to remind the golfer if the club isleft behind and also to be used to record the club used to make astroke). Moreover, the one or more light sensors can be used todetermine motion status (determined from light variations) as describedherein in order to determine (1) which club in a set of clubs having an“out” status is being used to swing at a ball and (2) when or whether aswing is being taken. The RFID transmitters, which can be part of aBluetooth transceiver, in each of the golf club RFID tags can transmittheir respective club identifiers and in/out status and motion status tothe RFID receiver 5111 (which can be part of a Bluetooth transceiver inthe golf accessory 5101) in golf accessory 5101 which can then, in turn,transmit a recorded stroke (including the club identifier and GPSposition of the stroke) to the display device 5103 once the golfaccessory 5101 determines a stroke was taken.

The golf accessory 5101 can include a GPS receiver 5105 that determinesthe position (e.g., in GPS latitude and longitude coordinates) of theaccessory 5101 which can be a GPS watch or arm band or be part of a golfglove, for example. The GPS receiver 5105 can be coupled to a processingsystem, such as microprocessor 5115, through a bus 5113. The PANtransceiver 5107 in the golf accessory communicates with PAN transceiver5119 in the display device and provides, through this communicationwhich can be under the control of microprocessor 5115, club identifiersand recorded stroke information (e.g., which club was used to take astroke at a specified GPS location) to the display device 5103. The golfaccessory 5101 can also include an impact sensor 5109 that senses theimpact of the club, held by the golfer's hand and arm, on the ball. Theimpact sensor 5109 can be coupled to microprocessor 5115 through a bus5113 in one embodiment. The golf accessory 5101 can also include amotion sensor 5110 (e.g. an accelerometer) to detect motion. The golfaccessory 5101 can also include signal strength circuitry that can beused to determine the closest golf club that is in use (when a stroke istaken). This circuitry can be independent of PAN 5107 or part of PAN5107. The golf accessory 5101 can also optionally include a button 5116that, when pressed or otherwise activated, causes a user activatableswitch 5116A to sense the user input which can be used to manuallyindicate a stroke was or will be taken with the currently sensed(through the methods described herein) club or to confirm that a sensordetected stroke is in fact an actual stroke taken by the golfer. Thisconfirmation can occur when the golfer activates the switch in responseto a prompt on a user interface of the golf accessory. The prompt can becaused by the one or more sensors detecting a potential stroke or swing.The switch can be an actual electromechanical switch on the golfaccessory or a switch that is implemented as a user selectable button orother GUI (graphical user interface) displayed on a touch screen of thegolf accessory. The accessory 5101 can determine the club in use asdescribed herein (e.g., through the in/out status and the motion statusas indicated by one or more light sensors) and when the golfer pressesor otherwise activates button 5116, the accessory 5101 can then recordthat a stroke was taken with the identified club.

FIG. 52 shows an embodiment in which a single display device, such asdisplay device 5103, is shared by two or more golfers, each having a setof one or more golf club RFID tags and each having a golf accessory,such as GPS watches 5205 and 5207. The display device 5103 in FIG. 52can be the same as display device 5103 in FIG. 51. The display device5103 can be programmed, paired, or otherwise configured to operate withone or more golf accessories such as GPS watches 5205 and 5207. Thecommunications between these GPS watches 5205 and 5207 and displaydevice 5103 can be through Bluetooth transceivers that allow each GPSwatch to communicate with the display device 5103 to provide strokeinformation for each golfer. Each GPS watch can be paired with displaydevice 5103 so that its communications with the display device 5103 areauthenticated and identify each golfer by name, thereby allowing displaydevice 5103 to keep score for each golfer by accumulating the recordedstrokes that are reported in transmissions, such as communications 5210and 5212, from each GPS watch, such as GPS watches 5205 and 5207.

Two (or more) different golfers, such as golfers A and B, can wear theirrespective GPS watches 5205 and 5207 on their arms and use those watchesto manually or automatically record golf strokes (and also to triggerreminders if a golf club is left behind). Each GPS watch 5205 and 5207can be the same as golf accessory 5101 in FIG. 51, and each GPS watch5205 and 5207 can interact with its respective set of golf club tags. Inparticular, golfer A's set of golf club tags 5201 can be learned by GPSwatch 5205 so that GPS watch 5205 recognizes and records and processestransmissions from the one or more golf club RFID tags 5201 but does notrecognize and record and process transmissions from the one or more golfclub RFID tags 5203. Similarly, golfer B's set of golf club tags 5203can be learned by GPS watch 5207 so that GPS watch 5207 recognizes andrecords and processes transmissions from the one or more golf club RFIDtags 5203 but does not recognize and record and process transmissionsfrom the one or more golf club RFID tags 5201. When the system shown inFIG. 52 is set up in this manner, each golfer can wear their respectiveGPS watch and use it to record their game of golf and to keep theirscore on the same display device without interference with the othergolfer's clubs or watches.

Active Club Tag Triggers Ball RFID Reader

A system that includes a passive tag in the ball and an active tag onthe golf club is now described. The active tag on the club has beendescribed, including techniques to determine that a club is in use,based on its motion (see, e.g., methods shown in FIGS. 7F, 7G and 7H).The passive tag in the ball has been described, using a RFID or tagreader to query and receive information from the ball. In anothertypical embodiment of a method shown in FIG. 42, as a means of savingpower in the RFID tag reader, the reader can change modes of operationbased on receiving information from the golf club tags or other elementsof the golf data collection system. For example, the RFID reader can bein a low power state 4201 until it receives a message from the golfdevice or golf club tags that a club or clubs are out-of-the-bag, inmotion, etc. 4210. When the RFID reader receives these messages or otherinformation from the golf data collection system (for example, signalstrength information received by the GPS device by golf club tags) theRFID reader wakes up from the low-power state and enters an active state4202. The reader can begin transmitting and receiving signals 4203 andanalyzing received signals in operations 4203, 4204, 4205, and 4206.Using techniques previously described, the reader recognizes when theball is hit 4207 and 4208 and gives data to the golf device 4209, andthe golf device records the stroke 4211.

FIG. 36A shows an example of a method which can use an active golf clubtag to trigger an RFID reader to search for and identify at least onepassive golf ball tag in order to determine the presence of a golf balland to determine if a stroke was taken. In operation 3601, an activegolf club tag determines its status has changed from in-bag toout-of-bag; this can be performed as described herein through the use ofone or more light sensors or other sensors. In response to the change ofstatus from operation 3601, the golf club tag transmits its out-of-bagstatus to a mobile device such as a GPS rangefinder having an RFIDreader. In another embodiment, the mobile device does not include a GPSreceiver but is a golf accessory which includes the RFID reader. Then inoperation 3605, the RFID reader in the mobile device receives theout-of-bag status signal and this causes it to activate the RFID readerto cause it to search for passive golf ball tags and to identify anddetermine the closest passive golf ball tag. This will indicate the golfball in use and the RFID reader can continue to send signals, such asquery signals, to the passive RFID tag in the golf ball to determine thepresence of the ball. The RFID reader can use signal strength todetermine which ball tag is the closest tag which can be assumed to bethe ball in use, and when the signal from the passive tag disappears,then it can be assumed that the ball has been hit away and a stroke canbe recorded as described herein.

In a similar embodiment, when the golf GPS device determines that agolfer is set up for a stroke and a club is in motion, using techniquespreviously described, the device then activates a RFID or tag reader todetermine the ball in use. In other embodiments, the RFID reader canreceive other messages from sensors in golf equipment worn on the golferto change modes of operation.

Detecting Movement of the Golf Ball

As described in patent application Ser. No. 12/170,413, filed Jul. 9,2008, entitled “Apparatuses, Methods and Systems Relating to AutomaticGolf Data Collecting and Recording”, incorporated by reference, a RFIDtransceiver uses Doppler radar or transient response of the club tagsignal amplitude and/or phase response to detect the velocity of theclub followed by the velocity of the ball. The same technique is appliedto detect motion of the ball in the current embodiment, when passivetags are in the golf ball. The receiver or transceiver in the RFID ortag reader receives the signal from the tag in the ball. The receivercan use Doppler techniques or transient response of the ball tag signalamplitude and/or phase response to detect that the ball is in motion.When the passive ball tag is in motion, the transient response ofamplitude and/or phase in the received signal is different than theresponse in the received signal when the tag is not in motion. Similarlywhen the tag is in motion, there is a Doppler response presented by ashift in frequency. In an alternate embodiment previously described, areceiver in the golf device receives a signal transmitted by a golf ballwith an active RFID tag. The motion of the ball with active tag can bedetermined using techniques previously described, such as motion sensorin the ball.

Passive RFID Club Tags

An alternate embodiment is described for the club tag. The tag attachedto the golf club may be a passive RFID tag, such as those produced byAlien Technology. The RFID reader may be incorporated into the golfdevice (such as a GPS rangefinder) or golf accessory worn by the golfer.The RFID reader contains circuitry to query or activate the tag in agolf club and to receive data from the tag and to communicate this datato the golf device. The golf ball may contain active circuitry or it maycontain a RFID tag. An embodiment of a technique is illustrated in FIG.43. When the golf device or RFID reader determines that a ball has beenhit 4301, using techniques previously described, the RFID reader thentakes readings from nearby golf club tags 4302. In one embodiment, theclub tag closest to the reader is recorded as the club used for thestroke 4303. This data is sent to the golf device and a stroke isrecorded 4304. The RFID reader may be attached to the golfer as anindependent module, or it may be incorporated into a golf device such asa GPS golf rangefinder (e.g. a SkyCaddie GPS rangefinder from SkyGolf).If the RFID reader is a separate module, it has a means to communicatewith the golf device. When the reader is in proximity to multiple clubs,for example the golf bag full of clubs, it may query the clubs in thebag to determine if any of them are missing and transmit thisinformation to the golf device.

FIG. 36B shows an example of a method in which an active golf ball,having a sensor, can activate an RFID reader in order to cause thereader to search for and to identify a golf club in use based uponsignals received from one or more passive golf club tags. In operation3612, a powered sensor in a golf ball senses a hit on the golf ball;this has been described herein and can involve a powered sensor that canbe in an active state by periodically waking up to detect whether or notthe ball has been hit through an impact and then going back to sleep andthen repeating the process. Upon sensing a hit, the sensor can activateand cause power to be supplied to an RF transmitter to transmit a firstRF signal, as shown in operation 3623, and this signal can betransmitted to an RFID reader, such as an RFID reader worn by a golferas a golf accessory, or an RFID reader which is part of a golf GPSrangefinder which can be worn by a golfer. Then in operation 3625, theRFID reader receives the first RF signal which activates the RFID readerto cause it to search for passive club tags and to identify those tagsand to identify those tags and to determine the closest passive club tagthat will assume to be the tag and club in use. Received signal strengthwhich is received by the RFID reader can be used to determine which ofthe passive club tags is the closest tag and hence should determine theclub which is in use.

System Alerts Twilight Function—Low Light Warning

The club tags transmit based on the sensing of light and darkness. Therewill be times when it is too dark for the system to function properly.Because some golfers will play early in the morning or late in theevening, when there is insufficient light for the tags to functionproperly, the system can include an alerting means—warning the golfer ofsuch conditions. This way, the golfer will realize that it is too darkto rely on the system and not think that the system is working properly.In one preferred embodiment, photo sensors on the receiving unit orbag-mounted device or in a tag of a club can prompt an alert to the userbased on the level of light sensed at the receiving unit or at thebag-mounted device or in a tag of a club. This sensor, for example, canbe a light sensor coupled to the microprocessor 523 in the golf GPSdevice 511 shown in FIG. 5. The alert can be in the form of a message ona screen, a sound, a vibration, etc. In an embodiment in which the lightsensor is not integrated with the receiving unit (such as an embodimentin which the light sensor is on the golf club or is on a bag mounteddevice that is separate from the receiving unit), then the signalindicating insufficient light can be transmitted to the receiving unitwhich can then present the message. In another embodiment the receivingunit (such as the golf GPS device 511), if equipped with time of dayinformation (e.g. from on-board GPS) the receiving unit could rely ontime of day information and sunrise/sunset information, including civiltwilight information to alert the user when it is too dark to rely onthe system. This latter approach may be less reliable as users could beusing the system (e.g. learning tags) indoors at night with the lightson and receive a false indication that it is too dark to rely on thesystem. A combination of the two approaches could also be useful. Forexample, the receiving unit could first rely on light sensor informationon board the receiving unit, then time of day information.

System Security Options and Methods

It is against the rules of golf for one golfer to obtain informationabout the golf club used by another golfer during a round of golf, otherthan by mere observation. Any physical act taken by one golfer to obtainsuch information is a breach of the rules of golf.

It is possible that the USGA and R&A would be concerned about thesecurity of the club tag system described herein. There may be a concernthat competitors would be able to find out what club another golfer isusing by receiving the information that is transmitted by theircompetitor's club tag. If a person desires to cheat it is possible forthem to do so. Features can be incorporated into the product, however,that would make cheating much more difficult.

In one embodiment, the system will require that club tags be “learned”by the receiving unit. As previously described, the receiving unit canhave several embodiments. For example, the receiving unit could be ahandheld GPS device, a golf-bag mounted device that communicates withtags and a handheld device, a cell phone or cell phone accessory, orseveral other embodiments. The receiving unit can be configured toreceive or to transmit and receive communication with tags and otherdevices.

As described in this application and in application Ser. No. 12/405,223,one method for learning tags is as follows:

-   -   Each tag has a unique identifier.    -   The golfer changes the mode of the receiving unit (e.g. a golf        GPS rangefinder) to “learn” (e.g. a learn tag mode in which        information about a new tag for a golf club is stored/learned        into the receiving unit).    -   The golfer is instructed to expose the club tags, one at a time,        to light or darkness to cause the club tags to transmit the        unique identifier.    -   Upon receipt of the club tag identifier, the receiving unit        prompts the golfer to assign a name to the club or club tag, by        either selecting a name from a pre-populated list or by        assigning a custom name.    -   When all the clubs are learned in this manner the golfer is        ready to use the system on the golf course, in “play” mode.

In the method of learning clubs described above it is possible that agolfer could cheat during a round of golf by using a receiving unit inlearn mode in close proximity to another golfer. For example, if GolferA is trying to cheat by obtaining club information from Golfer B, GolferA could be in close proximity to Golfer B and Golfer A could have areceiving unit in learn mode. When Golfer B removes a club, Golfer Awould receive the club identifier. If Golfer A could see which clubGolfer B used (associated with the received identifier), Golfer A couldnow associated that club type with the identifier and Golfer A would beable to know whenever Golfer B removes that club from the bag again.

To make cheating during play more difficult, the following method canincorporated. This method would make cheating, using un-modifiedequipment, very difficult. This method would work for directtag-to-receiving unit communication and for the configuration wherethere is a bag-mounted device communicating with the tags and receivingunits.

When the receiving unit is in LEARN mode the user has to take a specificseries of actions (that would be unnatural during normal play of thegame) to successfully learn tags. One example of a more secure LEARNprocess is as follows:

The user is instructed to:

-   -   1) Attach all tags to clubs and replace all clubs in golf bag.    -   2) Configure the receiving unit (e.g. a golf club rangefinder)        to be in LEARN mode (e.g. a learn tag mode in which information        about a new tag on a golf club is stored/learned into the        receiving unit).    -   3) Remove one club to learn it. The receiving unit receives the        identifying code and prompts the user to:    -   4) Name the club or tag. After naming the club or tag, the user        is prompted to:    -   5) CONFIRM the learning of that club. The user is asked, in one        embodiment, to replace the club in the bag (receive a prompt)        then remove the same club (within a period of time) from the bag        to confirm the learning of that club. In another embodiment, the        user is asked to press a button on the tag or grip.    -   6) When in LEARN mode, after the club is named, the user will        have a limited amount of time to CONFIRM the learning of that        club.    -   7) If the tag is not CONFIRMED, the tag code is not store or        displayed on the receiving unit.

In a system with the security method described above the “cheater” thatis trying to learn another golfer's clubs by using his own receivingunit in learn mode would not be able to as it is not normal for a golferto remove a club, replace the same club and remove it again (within say30 seconds or to repeatedly press a button on the tag or grip). The“cheater's” receiving unit would never store or display the othergolfers unique tag codes as they would not be CONFIRMED

FIG. 22 shows a flowchart that represents one method of an embodimentthat can implement a secure learn tag mode. In operation 2201, thereceiving unit, which may be a golf GPS rangefinder, enters the learntag mode in response to user selection of an option to place thereceiving unit in that mode. In one embodiment, the user can collecttogether all golf clubs having new tags which need to be programmed intothe receiving unit and insert those clubs into a golf bag so that theportion of the club having the new tag is in a dark environment, such asthe bottom of a golf bag. Alternatively, the user could cover the golfgrips containing the tags with a thick blanket to create a darkenvironment. Then the user can remove a club, one at a time, in order toprogram the receiving unit for that selected club. This is shown inoperation 2203 in which the receiving unit detects a club with a tag hasbeen removed from the golf bag (or other dark environment). The removalof the tag from the dark environment will cause the tag to wake up andwill further cause the tag to transmit its identifier to the receivingunit. Because the receiving unit is in a learn mode, the receiving unitwill respond, in operation 2205, by prompting the user to enter a namefor the club or other information in order to associate the tag'sidentifier, which may be a unique number, with a name for the club. Inoperation 2207, the receiving unit receives, through user input, a nameor other identifier provided by the user, and once the user hascompleted all of the data entry required by the receiving unit, thereceiving unit can prompt the user to confirm completion of the learnmode for the current club by performing, for example, an action on theclub. The action should be an unnatural action on a golf course whichwould reveal the actions of a cheater. In one embodiment, the action canbe, for example, requiring the user to place the club back into the golfbag or other dark environment and then remove it quickly from the golfbag or dark environment and then quickly place it back into the golf bagor dark environment, all within a predetermined period of time, such as15 seconds or 30 seconds. In another embodiment, the action can berequiring a user to press a button on the tag or on the grip of the golfclub, or in another embodiment, the sequence of operations (in/out) maybe reversed, etc. If the receiving unit does not detect the requestedaction within a predetermined period of time, the receiving unit willnot confirm the learning and hence not store or associate the club'sidentifier with the name provided by the user. Hence a cheater'sreceiving unit will not be able to record a club name or otheridentifier of the club. In operation 2209, the receiving unit canreceive confirmation within a period of time in one embodiment, and ifconfirmation is received, as shown in operation 2211, then the receivingunit stores the learned information about the tag and the club. In oneembodiment, operation 2209 can require an action which includes puttingthe club back into the golf bag or other dark environment and thenremoving it from the bag or other dark environment and then putting itback into the bag or dark environment all within a predetermined periodof time, such as 15 seconds or 30 seconds.

Further, the configuration described above simplifies the securitymeasures required in the product. Without the method described above(requiring an unnatural confirmation step) other security means might berequired in the product. Other security measure might include:

-   -   Adding data (e.g. a pre-assigned bag-mounted device identifier)        to the transmission from a bag-mounted device so that only        receiving units that have already been “paired” with that        specific bag-mounted device would be able to receive        transmissions. Adding such data lengthens transmission time and        could have a negative impact of transmission collisions.    -   Programming the bag-mounted device with the ESN (Electronic        Serial Number) from the receiving unit. Similar to above, once        the bag-mounted device has the receiving unit ESN stored, the        receiving unit ESN could be added to the data transmitted from        the bag-mounted device. Programming the ESN into the bag-mounted        device might require additional features such as: connection        port in the bag-mounted device (e.g. USB) or additional RF        components in either the receiving unit or the bag-mounted        device.    -   In a system with tags configured as transceivers there are more        options for adding security. For example, in one embodiment the        tag could send an initial transmission or transmissions that do        not identify the club. Upon receipt of the transmissions the        receiving unit could encode the response transmission (e.g. with        an equipment serial number). Then the tags, upon receiving the        response transmissions (with an ESN the tags have previously        been “paired” with), add the tag identifier and return the        transmission. This transmission or transmissions would only be        receivable by the receiving unit with the matching ESN. This        method, however, does require more transmissions and introduces        more possibilities for collisions. Another example is an        embodiment in which the tag, in its first learning session with        a receiving unit, sends its initial identifier to the receiving        unit and then the user enters a club name, etc. and upon        completion of data entry, the user instructs the receiving unit        to complete the learning process. Then the receiving unit sends        a one-way hashed version of the tag's code to that tag and that        code is used, on the next transmission from the tag, as the        tag's identifier, and this process repeats so that the tag's        identifier is updated after each transmission from the tag so        that the tag's identifier changes over time and it is not used        repeatedly.    -   Using a minimum acceptable signal strength received from the tag        to determine that this is the desired club to LEARN. In this        way, clubs that are not close to the device are not recognized.        Additionally, if the retailer offers a service to LEARN or        “pair” clubs to a GPS device, the device would recognize only a        nearby club and not a club a distance away. This would allow for        several LEARN or “pair” stations at the retailer to coexist        without interfering with each other.        These additional measures would add cost and complexity to the        design of the product but might eliminate the need for a        confirmation step during the learning process.

There are of course other methods of cheating that are not easy toremedy. For example, Golfer A could steal Golfer B's receiving device(bag mounted device or handheld device with RFID receiving capability)and monitor which clubs Golfer B was selecting from the golf bag. Thiswould require that Golfer B did not notice the theft of the device andGolfer A would have to be in close enough proximity to Golfer B duringthe round to receive the signals from the club tags or a bag-mountedrepeating device.

Also, with modified RF equipment and a means to obtain golf clubinformation from a distance a person could still cheat, but this is anexample of going to extraordinary measures to cheat at golf.

Method of Tracking Golf Clubs for Marketing Purposes

It is contemplated that the golf club tags or tag electronics can bebuilt-in to the golf club grips at time of manufacture. A golf equipmentmanufacture may desire to maintain a database of golf equipment sold(e.g. golf clubs). This database could contain detailed informationabout the equipment. For example, in the case of golf clubs, thedatabase could contain details of the various components of the club,such as shaft material, club head loft, etc. A tag could be includedpermanently in the golf club grip, and a corresponding bar code labelcould be attached to the outside of the grip. The bar code contains thesame identifier as contained in the tag and the bar code label wouldtravel with the tag throughout the manufacturing process of the tag.When the tag is embedded in the golf grip, the bar code label isattached to the exterior of the grip. This way golf equipmentmanufacturers can use bar code reading equipment (that they are likelyalready set up with). After the golf club is assembled, the bar code isscanned by the equipment manufacturer and the specific components arerecorded into the equipment manufacturer's database. When the customerreceives the product, the data can then be tracked by the equipmentmanufacturer, due to the wireless communication between the club tag anddevices that can be connected to the Internet for data uploading anddownloading. The data in the club tag contains the same identifier asthe bar code, which also matches the identifier in the equipmentmanufacturer's database. The equipment manufacturer can now takeadvantage of observing use patterns of the golfer. Alternatively, inlieu of including a bar code and bar code reader in the process, thedata can be tracked using the tag transmissions and a RF receiver tocapture the data and record it in a database. This would eliminate theneed for a bar code to travel with the tag as it is manufactured butwould potentially require the equipment manufactures to modify theirequipment and processes to receive the tag transmissions. Another optionis to use the active tag in the club in conjunction with a passive RFIDtag that could be read by a RFID reader. This concept with the passiveRFID tags would be in lieu of active club tags plus bar code labels.

The golfer would in one embodiment register the club online with the GPSdevice company to take advantage of compiling data corresponding to thegolf games played and club usage. Additionally, the system gathersinformation about which golf course the golfer is playing, how oftenhe/she uses this club and how often they golf. This is valuableinformation that could be provided to the retailer in determininggolfer's preferences.

FIG. 23 shows an example according to one embodiment to operate a datacollection system, such as a data collection system at a golf clubmanufacturer or golf equipment distributor, such as a retailer, etc. Thedata collection system, in one embodiment, uses a device that is a GPSgolf rangefinder that accompanies the golfer and collects informationabout golf club usage in the presence of the device. In one embodiment,the golf club can be mounted with one or more of the tags describedherein, such as the tag shown in FIG. 6A to create the system shown inFIG. 5, in which the tag communicates with the golf GPS device, such asthe golf GPS device 511. The golf GPS device can accumulate informationover many months about the usage of one or more golf clubs, and thisinformation can include a list of golf courses played at, how often theclub is used and how often the user plays golf. The golf GPS device canrecord the days or dates that golf was played on, how often the golfclub was used on those days, and an identifier of each golf courseplayed at by the golfer. The identification of a golf course can bederived from the location information obtained from the GPS receiverduring playing of the golf games. This information can be accumulatedover time and then provided through a data network, such as a cellulartelephone network or the Internet, etc. to the manufacturer of the golfclub or to another golf club manufacturer or to other golf equipmentmanufacturers or to retailers or other distributors of golf equipment.The accumulated information can be, in one embodiment, uploaded from thegolf rangefinder (or other device) to a data processing system (e.g. aserver) used by the manufacturer or manufacturers or retailers or otherdistributors, either directly from the golf rangefinder (e.g. through aWiFi or Ethernet or cellular telephone connection provided by the golfrangefinder), or the accumulated information can be copied to anotherdevice (e.g. a laptop computer or other data processing system) which inturn can upload the accumulated information to the data processingsystem used by the manufacturer or manufacturers or retailers or otherdistributors. In the method of FIG. 23, the golf club manufacturer canassociate the identifiers from the tags with golf clubs having been madepreviously by virtue of operation 2301 in which the manufacturer recordsidentifiers from the tags into a database. This can be performed byscanning a bar code or by reading the RF transmission from the tags onthe golf clubs. This is performed prior to distributing the golf clubswith the tags in operation 2303. In other words, the golf clubmanufacturer or the tag manufacturer is recording this information intothe database prior to distributing the golf clubs or the tags separatelyto golfers. When the golf GPS device transmits the information, as inoperation 2307, that information will include the identifiers previouslyrecorded, which will allow the golf club manufacturers or golf equipmentdistributors, to associate the information with the previously storedidentifiers for each golf club or tag. The receiving unit, in operation2305, stores and accumulates the information about each tag as describedherein prior to transmitting that information in operation 2307.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evidentthat various modifications may be made thereto without departing fromthe broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for determining whether a golf clubhas been removed from a golf bag, the apparatus comprising: a housingconfigured to be coupled to a golf club; a processing system coupled tothe housing; at least one light sensor coupled to the processing system,the at least one light sensor being configured to activate theprocessing system from a sleep state and being configured to provide acurrent light meter value; an impact sensor coupled to the processingsystem, the impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golfclub hitting a golf ball; an RF transmitter coupled to the processingsystem, the processing system being configured to cause the RFtransmitter to transmit an identifier of the golf club and an indicatorof a status of the golf club relative to a golf club bag, wherein thestatus is one of: (a) in-bag or (b) out-of-bag; and wherein theprocessing system is configured to determine a motion status of the golfclub, the motion status determined, by the processing system, from lightmeter values measured over time by the at least one light sensor; andwherein the processing system is configured to cause the RF transmitterto transmit a signal, to a golf GPS rangefinder, indicating that thegolf club was used to take a stroke, the processing system causing theRF transmitter to transmit the signal based upon the combination of (1)the motion status indicating that the golf club was in motion and (2)data from the impact sensor that indicates the impact occurred.